Renewed Hope Initiative empowers 120 women farmers, 100 persons with disability in North East
Representative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, Wives of Governors of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe and Adamawa represented displaying cheques of ten million naira for beneficiaries of North East Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme in Maiduguri
By Dauda Iliya
The Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has empowered one hundred and twenty women farmers across six states of the North East geopolitical zone.
At a ceremony to launch the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme for the region in Maiduguri, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said, each of the beneficiaries would receive 500,000 naira to scale up farming and other agricultural activities.
Senator Tinubu said, a cheque of ten million naira will be handed over to each state Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, who are also the first ladies of their respective states for onward disbursement to the twenty women farmers.
Represented by wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, the First Lady implored on the beneficiaries to expand their agricultural ventures in either animal husbandry, fish farming or poultry to contribute to local and national food production.
She expressed confidence that the initiative will not only transform the lives of individual beneficiaries, but also contribute to food sufficiency in the North East region.
According to Senator Tinubu, the Social Investment Programme of the Initiative will also be empowering one hundred persons with disability in Borno state with 100,000 naira each to recapitalise their existence business.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu recognizes the pivotal role that agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency. Therefore, the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broader national agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector ” Tinubu said.
The First Lady explained that the Renewed Hope Initiative will soon collaborate with the Federal ministry of Agriculture to empower potential young male and female farmers, adding that young farmers club will also be launched in all public primary and secondary schools across the country.
Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum assured that Governors of the North East will complement the effort of the Federal government by supporting more women in the region.
He noted that the programme will give equal opportunity for urban and rural women farmers to increase their productivity.
Wife of the Borno state Governor, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum and her counterpart from Bauchi state, Dr Aisha Bala Mohammed who is the Zonal Coordinator of the initiative, commended the First Lady for initiating the programme which will alleviate the suffering of many vulnerable people and also give them a sense of belonging.
The representative of the First Lady and her entourage had earlier paid the traditional homage on the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi at his palace.
Correspondent Dauda Iliya reports that wives of Governors of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe were present at the event while that of Adamawa was represented.
