Over 226,760 poor and vulnerable households in Nasarawa State have so far benefited from the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HOPE) programme.

Mrs Rhoda Agbawu, the HOPE Programme Manager in the state, made this known during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the implementation of HOPE held on Saturday in Lafia. She explained that the meeting was designed to boost participation from stakeholders, assess their level of interest, and ensure a clear sustainability plan for the project.

“This meeting is being held to ensure inclusiveness in the implementation process. That is why we carefully selected ministries, departments, agencies, civil society groups and faith-based organisations. They are relevant to the sustainability of this programme. We will not allow all the efforts of the federal and state governments to go to waste. We already have Nasarawa State Investments Programme Agency, so rolling the programme into the state institution will not be a problem,” Agbawu stated.

She further applauded President Bola Tinubu for initiating the HOPE programme and praised Governor Abdullahi Sule for what she described as his compassionate heart towards the poor and vulnerable in the state.

Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Investment Agency (NSSIA) and HOPE Focal Person said the programme was targeted at reaching 15 million poor and vulnerable households nationwide through direct cash transfers. He disclosed that more than two million households have already benefited across the country, with more than N300 billion spent so far.

According to him, Nasarawa State, through the State Cash Transfer Unit, has channelled millions of naira to support thousands of households. He said the programme was helping to stabilise families that once faced severe daily struggles. “Mothers are better able to feed and care for their children, while households have access to steady support, and this brings dignity and hope for a brighter future,” he said.

He further explained that Governor Sule had ensured the initiative was domesticated to reach more citizens. He said that since 2021, more than 10,000 vulnerable households across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa had been empowered through the state’s conditional cash transfer.

Mrs Hauwa Jugbo, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by Larai Tsaku, thanked President Tinubu and Governor Sule for their commitment, adding that the programme had renewed the hope of the vulnerable.

Mr Samson Osuo, who represented the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the event, lauded the government for the initiative but appealed for more vulnerable people to be included in the scheme.

Olumo ACDC Youth in Community, an affiliate of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Abeokuta North Local Government, has completed a five-day free vocational training programme aimed at empowering young people with entrepreneurial skills. The initiative, led by Comr. Khadijah AbdulAzeez, ran from 1st to 5th September 2025 and focused on equipping youths with practical knowledge in soap making, air freshener production, izal formulation, and jelly production.

The programme ended on Saturday, 6th September 2025, with a graduation ceremony where certificates were awarded to participants in recognition of their successful completion. The event attracted several stakeholders and leaders, including the Coordinator of NYCN Abeokuta North, Comr. Mujeeb Akewugberu, and the State Chairman of NYCN, Oloye Akolawole Shoremi, represented by his Chief Protocol Officer, Comr. Samsideen Bakare. Also present were Hon. Zikrullah, popularly known as Water, Councillor of Totoro/Sokori Ward, the ACDC Chairperson, Alhaja Rizkat Bolaji, alongside other community youth leaders who came to show support.

In his remark, Comr. Mujeeb Akewugberu congratulated the graduates for taking the opportunity seriously, saying “your palm won’t deceive you.” He highlighted the importance of such free training, stressing that opportunities like this are often underrated. He reminded participants of a recent incident in Osun State where Governor Ademola Adeleke bought puff-puff worth ₦50,000 from a street vendor and later offered her employment as a chef at the Government House after discovering her hidden skills. He said this was proof that vocational skills can open unexpected doors when applied properly.

Akewugberu further urged the participants to focus on branding and packaging in their businesses, explaining that skills alone may not be enough without quality presentation. “What will set you apart in the competitive market is not just the product but also how you present it,” he advised.

He also appreciated Olumo ACDC Youth in Community for what he described as a timely intervention. He noted that the training aligns with the new national effort, as entrepreneurship has recently been introduced into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools across Nigeria, making such initiatives vital for long-term economic growth and youth empowerment.

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.

More than 500 women, men, and youths in Cross River State have received vocational and technical training through a programme organised by Humanity Without Borders (HUWIB), the foundation of the Governor’s wife, Dr. Eyoanwan Otu, in partnership with Mountain of Fire Ministries. The initiative was aimed at reducing unemployment, encouraging entrepreneurship, and promoting self-reliance across the state.

The participants were trained in ICT, baking, soap making, perfume production, barbing, solar installation, paint production, and fascinator making. At the end of the programme, empowerment items were formally presented to the graduates to enable them to put their new skills into practice and create sustainable businesses.

Representing the Governor’s wife at the closing event, the wife of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Virginia Ironbar, praised the commitment of the participants. She described the project as “a platform to provide beneficiaries with sustainable livelihoods.”

Dr. Otu explained that in the past two years, her foundation has carried out impactful projects in quality health, education, sustainable livelihood, social welfare, and environmental development across the three senatorial districts of Cross River State. She assured citizens that she remains committed to supporting initiatives that uplift the lives of women and youths through training, financial empowerment, and skill acquisition. Buy vitamins and supplements.

Also speaking, the wife of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nelly Ayambem, commended the foundation for equipping citizens with sustainable skills that can improve families and strengthen communities.

Several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the Governor’s wife, noting that her outreach programmes, health initiatives, and empowerment projects are life-changing opportunities.

They said the training has given them tools to build self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Buy vitamins and supplements.

Five hundred women in Abia State have become new beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme, joining 18,000 others across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Each woman received N50,000 to support their businesses.

At the flag-off ceremony in Umuahia, the wife of the Abia State governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, who represented Senator Oluremi Tinubu, explained that the Tony Elumelu Foundation donated N1 billion to the programme to empower 18,500 women nationwide. She noted that the initiative was designed to help women recapitalise and grow their small businesses.

Mrs. Otti said, “This programme is a boost to women traders and small-scale business owners who work tirelessly to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities. The N50,000 grant is not a loan but a seed of renewed hope to strengthen existing businesses.”

She commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its generosity and praised Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for promoting economic empowerment, social welfare, and education for women across Nigeria.

A representative of the foundation, Mr. Ikechukwu Aria Uka, stressed the organisation’s broad reach, stating, “The Tony Elumelu Foundation has a presence in 54 African countries with hundreds of alumni beneficiaries.”

Mrs. Otti also thanked her husband, Governor Alex Otti, for ensuring the proper implementation of RHI programmes in Abia State. She expressed hope that such initiatives would inspire similar acts of generosity nationwide.

Some of the women who received the financial support expressed appreciation and pledged to use the funds wisely. They also called for the programme to be extended to include more women across the country, stressing that the grants would help them expand their businesses and support their families.

The Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) has announced the launch of its new youth empowerment initiative, the People First Youth Local Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Programme (YOU-LEAP).

The programme aims to equip 5,000 young people across the state with digital, technological, and artisanal skills needed for sustainable economic growth.

According to Great Ogban, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of CRSMEDA, the YOU-LEAP programme is targeted at both urban and rural youths, helping them gain practical skills that will boost entrepreneurship and job creation. He explained that the initiative was built to give young people the tools to define their own economic paths.

“This is more than a program; it’s a strategic initiative to build a sustainable future for our state by investing in its most valuable asset—our youth,” Ogban said during a test run of the programme’s fashion and styling segment.

The first phase of YOU-LEAP will focus on five critical areas of training, including Fashion and Styling, Welding and Fabrication, Tiling, Information Communication Technology (ICT), and Video Editing.

These sectors were carefully selected to address both traditional and modern skill demands in the local economy.

The test run of the programme is already in progress, with practical sessions being conducted in partnership with local business Strings and Clad. CRSMEDA noted that the official launch of YOU-LEAP will take place after the test run is completed, setting the stage for large-scale training and empowerment across Cross River State.

Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, has flagged off the second phase of the Senator Sunday Steve Karimi women empowerment programme for this year in Lokoja Local Government Area.

During the event, seven women cooperative groups benefited from the empowerment scheme, with each group receiving two million naira. Each cooperative has at least 15 members, and according to the organisers, the groups were carefully selected based on their potential for growth and their capacity to make an impact in their communities.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Olamide Babalola Adesoro, delivered a goodwill message from the wife of the Senator, Mrs Stellamaris Karimi. She stressed the importance of women in national development, saying that women are the backbone of society.

“Women are the backbone of the society who are found across all sectors of the economy. They need to be supported because when you build a woman, you build a community, and Senator Sunday Karimi is passionate about women as a result of the integral roles they perform and fill in society,” she said.

Mrs Adesoro also urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds for the intended business and community purposes, warning against spending it on frivolities.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Senator Karimi and his wife for their continued support. They promised to use the funds effectively to improve their businesses, create opportunities, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

The Senator Sunday Steve Karimi women empowerment programme is held annually. Last year, one hundred million naira was distributed to different registered women cooperative groups. For this year, over 50 new women cooperatives, different from those that benefitted in the previous phase, will also be supported with funds from the N100,000,000 programme.

Senator Karimi reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots development, saying the initiative aligns with the President Tinubu youths and women empowerment policies. He noted that the programme is designed to expand small businesses, raise income levels, improve living standards, and contribute to economic growth in Kogi West and across Nigeria.