Over 500 women entrepreneurs in Benue State have received business equipment to support their ventures through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The empowerment programme took place on Friday at the Industrial Layout in Makurdi and was organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in collaboration with RHI.
The initiative is part of a nationwide project targeting 18,500 beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with similar events held simultaneously across the North Central region. The distribution in Benue is aimed at boosting financial independence among women and creating secure futures for their families.
Represented at the event by the Benue State RHI Coordinator and Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor, the First Lady said the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She emphasized that the focus is on inclusive and sustainable economic growth to empower women and strengthen communities.
“The equipment provided today will help women expand their businesses, achieve financial independence, and contribute to the prosperity of their families and the nation,” Senator Tinubu stated through her representative.
Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor explained that the programme was solely initiated by the First Lady and not a state government project. She revealed that Benue State benefitted from two separate streams of support, with 500 women empowered through the RHI-Tony Elumelu Foundation partnership and another 500 through the RHI-SDGs collaboration.
She added that follow-up structures have been put in place to monitor the beneficiaries’ progress and provide recapitalization support for those ready to grow their businesses further.
Benue State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Theresa Odache Ikwe, praised the First Lady’s efforts, describing her as the “Mother of the Nation.” She urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment responsibly and warned against selling the items.
The Commissioner also encouraged women to mobilize and ensure they have their Permanent Voter’s Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections. She acknowledged Governor Hyacinth Alia’s inclusive leadership, noting the high representation of women in key government positions, including the Secretary to the State Government.
The women who benefited expressed gratitude to Senator Tinubu, pledging to use the equipment to grow their businesses and improve their families’ living standards. Items distributed included deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines.
