By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
No fewer than 500 women in Bauchi State have been empowered with the sum of N25 million courtesy of the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) project in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme .
Each of the beneficiaries got the sum of N50,000 as drawn from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State as well as other women groups and associations across the state.
Speaking at the distribution of the money at the Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, stated that launching of the Women Economic Empowerment Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in conjunction with the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Bauchi State. was aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial spirit women traders and small-scale business owners who wake up each day determined to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.
Represented by the First Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, Wife of the President said the money was not a loan, rather it is a grant and a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalize your existing businesses.
“It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.
I will be presenting the sum of N50,000 each to some of the preselected 500 beneficiaries at this event today. I thank the Tony Elumelu Foundation once again for this support. May this act of generosity inspire many more across our nation.”
” I thank the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, and his Wife Haj. Aisha Bala Mohammed, for all the support in executing the programmes of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)” The President Wife said
Oluremi Tinubu thanked the Tony Elumelu Foundation, who donated the sum of N1Billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative, to directly support 18,500 women across the Nation, 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT will be receiving N50,000 each to strengthen and recapitalize their existing small businesses.
In her remarks, an alumni of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Zainab Ibrahim explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the women to recapitalisation and boost their businesses in order to remain self-employed.
Zainab Ibrahim added that the collaborative effort between the Foundation and the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria is to support women in the rural areas across the country to take them out of poverty.
She urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they utilized the money to boost their existing businesses in order to support their families.
Also speaking, Bauchi State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development, Zainab Babban Takko, said that the State Government has remained committed to eradication of poverty through its various interventions.
She also commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu for the initiative that is empowering women and vulnerable people across the country saying that the programme has taken a lot of women out of poverty.
The Commissioner also commended Bauchi First Lady, Aisha Bala Mohammed for supporting women and children through her office and Al-muhibbah Foundation.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation, Monica Warji, assured that the administration will continue to embark on programmes that will reduce poverty among citizens of the State with particular focus on women.
According to her, since the inception of Bala Mohammed led PDP administration, many people across the state have been supported through various skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.