The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has presented N25 million as financial support to 500 women in Bauchi State under her foundation, the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’ as part of efforts to boost small scale businesses.
The support under Women Economic Empowerment Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is designed to support the entrepreneurial spirit of women traders and small-scale business owners who work daily to provide for their families, educate their children and uplift their communities.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony held at Dr Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu Square, Government House Bauchi on Saturday, the first lady said the grant was intended to help women recapitalise their existing businesses.
She commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for donating N1 billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative to support 18,500 women across the country.
Under the programme, 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT will receive N50,000 each to strengthen and expand their existing small businesses.
Represented by the North-East coordinator of RHI and first lady of Bauchi State, Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed, Mrs Tinubu announced that 500 women in Bauchi had received N50,000 each.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu also thanked Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed and his wife for their support in executing the programmes of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and their continued commitment to grassroots development.
She further announced another empowerment of Fulani communities in Bauchi metropolis and across the 20 local government areas in Bauchi State, making a total of 25 groups supported by the government.
She explained that under the initiative, 21 groups would each receive N300,000, amounting to N6.3 million.
She noted that in addition, each of the 25 groups would receive five bags of rice (125 bags in total), while an extra 45 bags would be distributed to groups across the LGAs and the metropolis.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko, expressed gratitude to the First Lady, the state Governor, and the Bauchi First Lady for their commitment to improving the lives of women.
Some of the beneficiaries, Maryam Musa, Fatima Adamu and Asiya Gambo, thanked the first lady for the support, assuring that the grant would boost their livelihoods and improve their household economy.
