First Lady’s Pet Project Lifts Benue Women Entrepreneurs

First lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative has empowered 500 women entrepreneurs in Benue State with business tools aimed at boosting their economic activities and improving their livelihoods.”

The programme held at the industrial layout in Makurdi was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) as part of a simultaneous empowerment exercise across the North Central Zone.
Sen. Tinubu’s speech which was delivered by the state coordinator of the RHI, Scholastica Ben-Sor, said the initiative was expected to reach out to 18,500 women across all the six geopolitical zones, with the North Central zone being the first beneficiary.

According to her, the programme is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu which places emphasis on inclusivity and sustainable economic growth.

The first lady explained that what was given to the beneficiaries would serve as tools for them to grow their businesses, contribute to the nation’s prosperity, and create a more secure future for their families.
In her remarks, Ben-Sor said, “Benue was fortunate to benefit from two streams of intervention, totaling 1,000—500 from the RHI and Tony Elumelu Foundation women empowerment programme, and another 500 from the RHI and SDGs initiative. The first lady’s goal is to reduce poverty and strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that face tough market competition to ensure sustainability, and a follow-up structure has been put in place to monitor progress and even provide recapitalization support for those willing to expand their businesses.

Earlier, Benue State commissioner for women affairs, Teresa Ikwe, expressed appreciation to the first lady whom she described as the “Mother of the Nation,” for her continuous support for women in the state, recalling her previous interventions during disasters.

She urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items given to them, but to put them to meaningful use for the economic stability of their families, noting that family empowerment brings security and peace to society at large.

The commissioner also used the occasion to mobilise women ahead of the 2027 elections, encouraging them and their family members to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in preparation for when the need arises.

She commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his inclusive governance and assured that Benue women would remain solidly behind the governor’s administration and continue to give their support as the state moves toward the next elections.