The federal government has empowered 144 women in Benue State through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions and the Empowerment of Widows and Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The initiative was inaugurated in Makurdi on Saturday by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who said President Bola Tinubu is committed to the welfare of Nigerians, especially women. She explained that the programme is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment and reducing poverty.
According to the minister, 20 women will each receive N1 million under the Women Agro-Value Expansion programme to support smallholder farmers. She noted that this intervention would help boost farming activities, improve productivity, and enable the beneficiaries to become self-reliant. In addition, 100 indigent women are to receive N50,000 each to expand their small businesses, while 24 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Benue will also benefit from financial and social support to aid their recovery and help them start businesses.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the ministry, in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, is donating 400 bags of rice, 200 wrappers, 10 bales of clothes, four grinding machines, and four sewing machines to the beneficiaries. She further disclosed that the government is working on establishing a women’s economic village in Makurdi as a long-term strategy to promote empowerment in the state.
The minister expressed concern that women continue to face serious challenges despite years of democratic rule. “About 26 years after this present republic, women still face political challenges in Nigeria. The representation is still very low. We are going to rise above our political challenges. Economically, we still face challenges too; women cannot own land in some communities, even with their hard work. Today in Nigeria, we have more female-headed households than male-headed households,” she said.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, commended President Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for their consistent support for women in Benue. He also announced that his administration had approved land for women farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Theresa Ikwue, praised Oluremi Tinubu for her support and also commended the minister for helping Nigerian women regain their dignity.