Adamawa State has continued to make deliberate efforts in promoting youth and women empowerment through entrepreneurship and wealth creation programs. Following the establishment of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development in 2019 by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the state created the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency to drive initiatives that support skills acquisition, financial inclusion, and business growth.

One of the leading programs of this initiative is the Fintiri Business Wallet, officially launched on March 14, 2024, to provide direct financial support for small-scale business owners. At the launch, 10,000 entrepreneurs from different sectors received ₦50,000 each to strengthen and expand their businesses.

According to government officials, the goal was to stimulate grassroots economic growth by boosting local enterprises.

Since its introduction, the program has disbursed 6 billion naira to 120,000 beneficiaries, creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and reducing unemployment. Governor Fintiri described the initiative as “a deliberate step to secure the future of our youth and women by giving them the resources to succeed.”

Building on this achievement, the administration has announced plans to empower an additional 100,000 beneficiaries across Adamawa State in the next phase.

Hon. Michael Zira Ph.D, who piloted the program, explained that the success of the Fintiri Business Wallet demonstrates the impact of targeted financial interventions in reducing poverty and supporting self-reliance.

The program has been widely recognized as a model for direct empowerment. “We are not just reducing the poverty index, we are creating wealth and unlocking the potential of our most vibrant population,” Hon. Zira said.

Through this intervention and other poverty alleviation schemes, Adamawa State continues to strengthen its economy and ensure inclusiveness by giving young people and women access to business funding, small business loans, and entrepreneurship development opportunities.

Lagos State Government has announced a funding support of 20 million naira for young entrepreneurs with outstanding business proposals. The initiative is being carried out through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm Mrs. Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, made this known during the formal opening of the Amplifier Business Clinic, organised by the Ministry in partnership with Pelse Consulting at Sam Sonibare Youth Centre, Surulere, on Thursday.

According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the Amplifier Business Clinic was introduced in line with the inclusion of “Youth” as a pillar in the Developmental Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in 2023. She explained that the Ministry needed to broaden its activities in youth development to address the challenges faced by young people.

She urged the 92 young entrepreneurs selected from the 700 applicants to make full use of the opportunity. “You must maximise every moment of this business training programme to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to amplify your businesses to justify the money invested in the programme by the state government,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Youth Development, Mr. Abdulateef Saka, stated that the Amplifier Business Clinic is aimed at training young entrepreneurs on how to grow and sustain their businesses. He added that the initiative would help them create jobs and strengthen the local economy.

The Founder of Pelse Consulting, Mr. Femi Boboye, explained that the five-day training would empower young business owners across Lagos with access to funding, business skills, networks, and opportunities to build sustainable ventures. He also noted that the participants would benefit from one-on-one mentorship and coaching to scale their enterprises.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Economic Empowerment Programme in Cross River State, in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).

The programme is aimed at boosting small businesses, with 500 women traders and entrepreneurs in the state receiving N50,000 each to support their enterprises.

Representing the First Lady at the event, the RHI State Coordinator and wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen households and communities through economic empowerment. “When you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she said, while appreciating TEF for donating N1 billion to support women across the country.

She noted that 500 women from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will benefit from the support, bringing the total to 18,500 women nationwide. “Thanks to the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which donated N1 billion to support 18,500 women nationwide, 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT will receive N50,000 each to revitalise their businesses,” she added.

Bishop Otu also commended Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, for his consistent support of RHI programmes in the state.

A representative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation described the initiative as more than just financial support. He said it was a wider vision to transform women’s lives and strengthen the economy. “This initiative is not just a programme, it is a vision, a movement, and a clarion call to uplift the women of Nigeria. At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we believe that when women are empowered, communities are transformed and nations prosper. We pledge our continued collaboration to ensure that women do not just survive but thrive,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Cross River Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edema Irom, praised the initiative as a true reflection of the commitment of the First Lady to put smiles on the faces of market women and other vulnerable groups.

Some of the 500 beneficiaries in Cross River State received their N50,000 cash grants at the event and expressed gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu and TEF for the intervention.

September 5, 2025 – There are growing talks about the possible launch of the second phase of the FGN 50K Nano Presidential Grant, a scheme designed to support small-scale businesses at the grassroots level. The initiative was originally created to provide workforce support and help nano businesses acquire needed equipment for growth.

Reports suggest that each business may once again receive ₦50,000, with the condition that one additional person must be employed. This requirement is said to be part of government’s plan to encourage job creation within local communities.

“The first is the N50 billion that is for Nano, this is grant, and is supposed to go to all Nigerians across the 774 local governments, with each person collecting 50,000 and a maximum of 1,000 per local government,” an earlier statement explained during the first rollout.

The first phase took place back in March 9, 2024, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, with the Bank of Industry (BOI) acting as the Executing Agency. At that time, officials confirmed that “as at today, the federal government has disbursed to over 800,000 Nigerians out of the earmarked 1 million, and we’ve disbursed over 40 billion of the 50 billion. The intention is that between now and Christmas and New Year, we would have disbursed the entire 50 billion to Nigerians.”

It was further stated that no local government had been left out. “And no local government as we speak today, there’s no local government that has not benefited from this grant. We will provide the details, including names and addresses and name for whoever is interested to make sure that truly these funds went to the right Nigerians.”

The structure of the program sets aside 70 percent of the grant for women and youth, 10 percent for people with disabilities, 5 percent for senior citizens, and 15 percent for other groups.

Beneficiaries are expected to undergo verification using their National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number, while also proving business ownership, readiness to expand, and willingness to employ extra staff. Applicants must also provide residence or business address along with banking details.

For now, officials advise small business owners to remain calm and only follow announcements from the Federal Government, BOI, or SMEDAN regarding the rumored second phase.

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 500 women in Cross River State with a grant of N50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Economic Empowerment Programme.

The flag-off ceremony was held on Friday in Calabar, the state capital, where Mrs Tinubu was represented by the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Eyoanwan Bassey Otu. She explained that the grant is not a loan but direct financial support designed to uplift women-led businesses across the country.

“The initiative targets 18,500 women, 500 beneficiaries each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” she said.

According to her, “This initiative is geared towards the empowerment of women with N50,000 each as a grant. It is not a loan but a seed from the Renewed Hope Initiative. When you empower a woman, you empower a household. This initiative will have a positive impact on families and communities.”

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has committed N1 billion to support the project. The foundation’s involvement is expected to boost the capacity of women traders and small-scale business owners across Nigeria.

Mrs Tinubu praised the Tony Elumelu Foundation for what she described as a strong commitment to the success of the Renewed Hope Initiative. She said the empowerment scheme is a bold move to improve women’s financial independence through direct business recapitalisation support.

“We have seen how a little support in the hands of a woman becomes a seed for something greater, school fees paid, families fed, homes sustained, and communities uplifted,” she added.