From left: Gov. Abiodun, Senator Tinubu and the wife of the governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun at the event.
Women in agriculture, people living with disabilities (PLWD) and the less privileged are the primary targets of the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’ (RHI), a social intervention programme of the nation’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu as the initiative plans to empower 75 percent young female farmers and 25 percent young male farmers in the country.
The farmers would be identified and trained while 80 women farmers pre-identified in each state for agricultural support programme would also be carried along.
Under the programme, no fewer than 120 women from the six South-West states of the country are to receive a sum of N60 million.
This was disclosed by Senator Tinubu, during the launch of ’Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme and flag-off of the 2024 Planting Season, at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta earlier in the week.
The initiative which is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is also giving N10 million to 100 persons with disability to enhance their businesses.
Senator Tinubu stated that 20 women farmers would be supported in each of the South-West state with N500,000, explaining that a draft of N10 million would be handed over to the first ladies of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo states, who were the RHI Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective states.
“The Renewed Hope Initiative Social Investment Programme will be empowering 100 persons with disability, small business owners in Ogun State with a sum of N100,000 each, to recapitalise their existing businesses”, she said.
Senator Tinubu said the initiative was to empower 75 percent young female farmers and 25 percent young male farmers, who would be identified and trained, noting that the pre-identified 80 women farmers in each state for agricultural support programme would also be carried along.
She urged women farmers to seize the opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures and contribute to local and national food production.
Earlier, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who lauded the President’s wife in uplifting the womenfolk, noted that the programme symbolised the determination of his administration to elevate women farmers, fortify the agricultural framework and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure food security and sufficiency, adding that investing in women extends beyond moral obligations.
Governor Abiodun revealed that his government through the Oko’Owo Dapo scheme with total investment of about N1.5 billion, had assisted over 50,000 women to grow their businesses with additional fund from the Federal Government under its Nigeria for Women Project, stating that a similar programme tagged, Ogun Broiler Empowerment scheme had also empowered over 500 women-agric entrepreneurs.
Abiodun added that his administration prioritised the welfare, well-being and empowerment of women, as well as implemented programmes aimed at boosting their status by including them in politics, governance, economic activities, just as ensuring their right to qualitative education, especially for girls, due to their population.
Speaking, the state’s Governor’s Wife and RHI Coordinator, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, described the initiative as a way of celebrating and empowering women in agriculture, commending Senator Tinubu for supporting women in sector.
Mrs. Abiodun said the development would enhance food security and its value chain, as well as discourage discrimination against people with disabilities, appreciating her for sponsoring students who have interest in agriculture to Belarus for further studies.
She added that the programme would impact Nigerian families at the grassroots, as well as provide employment opportunities across various critical sectors, such as education, economic empowerment and agriculture, among others.
In her remarks, the South-West Zonal Coordinator for RHI and Wife of the Governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, noted that the programme would assist women in agriculture, urging beneficiaries to use the support judiciously.
