First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has disbursed N50,000 business grants to 500 small businesswomen in Katsina State.
The event, held in Katsina on Monday, marked another phase of the small business recapitalisation programme designed to promote economic development at the grassroots level and support women entrepreneurs.
Disbursing the grants, the wife of the Katsina State Governor, Zulaihat Radda, said the programme carried deep meaning for the people, stressing that it would strengthen local economies and empower women to become self-reliant.
“This programme has been rolled out across states of the federation to ensure that hardworking women and families are given the support they need to build a better tomorrow,” Mrs Radda said.
She described small businesses as the backbone of the Nigerian economy, explaining that they sustain households, educate children, provide essential services, and create employment opportunities.
“Yet, too often, they struggle to access the capital required to grow, compete, and withstand economic shocks. Sadly, enterprises owned by women are the most affected,” she added.
Mrs Radda explained that the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), a pet project of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, was established to address these challenges and promote women’s empowerment through access to funding, mentorship, and entrepreneurship training.
She noted that through the initiative, many women across the country had received business mentorship and resources that helped them grow from small roadside traders into sustainable entrepreneurs.
“Today, with this recapitalisation grant, we’re building on that progress by giving many more women the opportunity to strengthen their enterprises and expand their dreams,” she said.
Mrs Radda added that the success stories of the beneficiaries would serve as proof that empowerment works and would inspire other women to believe in their potential.
One of the beneficiaries, Amina Abbas from Batsari Local Government Area, commended Mrs Tinubu and the governor’s wife for their continuous support and encouragement toward women’s economic development.
