Emem Julius
The 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.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Friday in Calabar, the state capital, Mrs Tinubu, represented by the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, stated that the grant is not a loan but a direct financial support aimed at uplifting women-led businesses across the country.
She said, “The initiative targets 18,500 women, 500 beneficiaries each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“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 collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has committed N1 billion to support the project.
The grant targets women traders and small-scale business owners.
Mrs Tinubu commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its support and commitment to the success of the Renewed Hope Initiative in Nigeria.
She said the empowerment programme reflects a bold move to strengthen 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 said.
