Nigeria’s First Lady and national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed agricultural support materials to 800 farmers in Rivers State. The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s effort to promote food security and boost agricultural productivity across the country.
Senator Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the empowerment by cultivating their farmlands, nurturing livestock, and working toward higher yields that will help build a food-secure nation. The First Lady, represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, made this call during a brief ceremony held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The event was organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Rivers State Government, and the Young Farmers’ Club of Nigeria. The programme provided support materials such as seedlings, farm inputs, and livestock to encourage agricultural development among young and older farmers.
Delivering the First Lady’s message, Lady Fubara encouraged the beneficiaries to be dedicated and responsible in managing their farms. She said, “Grow these seedlings, nurture these livestock, and turn them into good yields. As you do that, you will also reawaken the entrepreneurial spirit that we are known for.”
Lady Fubara described the programme as a practical step to revive Nigeria’s agricultural potential and drew lessons from past government efforts such as Operation Feed the Nation and the Green Revolution. According to her, the initiative reflects a strong commitment to empowering Nigerians and demonstrates genuine love and dedication to national progress.
“This support programme is not just assistance, it is an investment that will lead to food surplus and help combat scarcity,” she said.
She further explained that the Rivers State Government, under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is complementing the initiative by supporting an additional 400 farmers, including 100 young and 300 older farmers, making the total number of beneficiaries 800. She added, “The First Lady of Nigeria is trusting you to make the best use of this opportunity. The Rivers State Government believes in your ability; do not let us down.”
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, commended the initiative as a platform promoting inclusivity and reducing socioeconomic gaps. “This initiative embodies the Federal Government’s commitment to improving lives through sustainable and inclusive development,” she said.
Prof. Odu also praised Lady Fubara for her leadership and passion in localising the Renewed Hope Initiative within the state. “Beyond the immediate benefits, this programme lays the foundation for a more prosperous and self-reliant Rivers State,” she added.
The Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, described the programme as timely and impactful. She called on the beneficiaries to be examples of commitment and to ensure the programme continues to grow. “You are the first set of beneficiaries, please, show an example so that the program will be replicated. Let it not die in your hands,” she said.