By Mohammed Dala Lawan
In a bid to ensure self-reliance among women and strengthen food security across the nation, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) under the Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the training of 200 women under the Women in Agriculture Support Programme (WASP) in Yobe State.
Represented by the wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hafsat Kolere Buni, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the initiative aims to empower women to be self-sufficient and safeguard the food supply.
A total of 60 women received rice seedlings and two litres of liquid fertilizer each, while 60 other women received cowpea seedlings and two litres of liquid fertilizer each. Other supports included livestock, with 40 women receiving two goats and two-week-old chicks with feed, while all 200 participants benefited from ₦50,000 to sustain their farming inputs.
The State Acting Coordinator of RHI, who is also the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Mairo Amshi, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Musa Abba Kollere, highlighted that the Women in Agriculture Support Programme is the first in a series of RHI projects.
She added that the next set will include Youth in Agriculture and the Young Farmers Club to combat micronutrient deficiencies and promote food fortification.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Yajalo Badama, urged the beneficiaries to use their new skills and resources to grow their agro-businesses throughout the entire value chain.
She noted that the timing is crucial, as many women turn to farming to rebuild their livelihoods in the aftermath of insurgency.
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