First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has disbursed N250 million to empower 500 women in Bauchi State, aiming to boost their social and economic well-being.
The grant is part of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme, implemented in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Tinubu, who inaugurated the exercise on Saturday, said each beneficiary would receive N50,000 to establish or expand their businesses. Represented by Aisha Mohammed, wife of the Bauchi State Governor, she noted that the programme targets 18,500 women across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Each of the beneficiaries will receive N50,000 to recapitalise or strengthen their businesses. This is not a loan but a seed grant to support the entrepreneurial spirit of women traders and small-scale business owners who work daily to provide for their families and uplift their communities. When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and a nation,” she said.
Tinubu also commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for donating N1 billion to the RHI and thanked the Bauchi State Governor for his support. She added that beneficiaries would be monitored to ensure effective utilisation of the funds.
Aisha Mohammed noted that the state government has also launched an empowerment scheme to support pastoral households, enhancing their social and economic well-being. The programme will support 25 women’s groups in Bauchi metropolis and rural settlements across the state’s 20 local government areas.
“In this initiative, 21 groups will receive N300,000 each, totalling N6.3 million. Additionally, each of the 25 groups will receive five bags of rice, amounting to 125 bags in total,” she said.
Zainab Baban Takko, Commissioner for Women Affairs, urged beneficiaries to use the funds to grow their businesses. Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim, representing the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to improving livelihoods across Africa.
One beneficiary, Maryam Sani, praised the gesture, adding that it would boost their businesses and improve the well-being of their families.
