Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has given a grant of N50,000 each to 500 women in Plateau State to support small businesses. The initiative is part of her Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to promote women’s economic empowerment across Nigeria.
Mrs Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Plateau State Governor, Mrs Helen Mutfwang, said the empowerment programme was supported by the Tony Elumelu Foundation to boost women’s businesses and improve their livelihoods.
“I thank the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which donated N1,000,000,000 to the Renewed Hope Initiative, to directly support 18,500 women across the nation,” she said. “500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT will be receiving N50,000 each to strengthen and recapitalise their existing small businesses.”
The First Lady explained that the initiative was aimed at boosting the capacity of women traders and small-scale business owners across the country. She said the programme was designed to support the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian women who work hard to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.
Mrs Tinubu described the project as a practical step toward strengthening the economic foundation of households and promoting national development. She clarified that the financial support was not a loan but a grant meant to recapitalise and expand existing small businesses.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation,” she stated, stressing that empowering women contributes directly to family well-being and national growth.
The First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Nigerian women through sustainable empowerment programmes, adding that such initiatives are key to achieving inclusive growth and long-term national prosperity.
Some beneficiaries of the grant expressed their appreciation for the support.
Elizabeth Pam, a mother of six and a farmer, said she plans to invest the money in her farm to boost production. Zainab Idris, a mother of eight and also a farmer, said the financial support came at the right time and would help her improve her farming business. Augustina Damanjei, a single mother of three, said she would use the money to expand her poultry farm.
The Renewed Hope Initiative continues to promote entrepreneurship and financial inclusion among women, encouraging self-reliance and community development across Nigeria.