By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has empowered another set of Five hundred women in Kwara state,in her latest empowerment scheme.

500 Women from each state in the North Central Zone namely: Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) simultaneously benefitted from the scheme through the Renewed Hope Initiative Support Scheme office of the First Lady and the office of Mrs Adejoke Adefulure, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

The first lady of Kwara State, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who on behalf of Mrs Oluremi Tinubu distributed the empowerment items which included deep freezers, grinding machines and cooking gas / oven to the beneficiaries in Ilorin, the state capital said Eighteen Thousand Five Hundred (18,500) women across the country’s six (6) geopolitical zones will ultimately benefit from the scheme.

Mrs AbdulRazaq noted that the North Central zone is the first to benefit from this program.”stressing that ” this event is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the economic empowerment of women and promotion of entrepreneurship and it marks a significant stride in our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and progressive society.”

She also said that” this round of the Renewed Hope women empowerment initiative is designed to support the ventures of five hundred women in the State and put them on the path of self-reliance and financial independence.”

Prof AbdulRazaq also said that,” the selected beneficiaries of this phase of the scheme will receive the listed items to duly engage them and support their trade to cushion the effect of the economic situation. “

“The items being distributed today are to equip our women with the necessary tools and resources they need to build successful businesses and to contribute to the prosperity of our great nation.”she stressed.

To the beneficiaries of the empowerment program, Professor AbdulRazaq said,’ I encourage you to use these resources judiciously to start or grow your businesses. Let these items serve as a foundation for creating better life for yourselves and your families. I hope and pray that what you receive today will prosper in your hands.”

Mrs Abdulrazaq also recalled that on the 1st of August 2024 the Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with partners granted scholarships to 200 Nigerian students, with five Kwarans as beneficiaries.

“On the 21st of December 2024 the Renewed Hope Initiative distributed Two Hundred Thousand Naira each to two hundred and fifty elderly people in kwara state through its Elderly Support Scheme.

“Also in April Five Hundred Thousand Naira was presented to twenty women farmers through the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme while over Fifty thousand units of exercise books was distributed to school children through the Renewed Hope Initiative Education Support Scheme in the State,” she said
She acknowledged the huge support of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for women in the state through the numerous empowerment schemes of the State Social Investment Programmes ( KWASSIP).

” In complementing this drive and promoting the welfare of our people, my office and the Ajike People Support Centre have over the years trained and equipped women and youths in vocations such as sewing, jewelry making, confectioneries and make up and makeover; among others, while we continue to encourage youth entrepreneurship and leading advocacies to curb drug abuse, gender based violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other initiatives that directly impacts on the people.

“We have also provided food support to households and supported businesses with financial grants.”she added .

” In closing I enjoin all beneficiaries of this gesture of the mother of the nation and the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President to make judicious use of the items presented to them to support their respective businesses and better the lot of their households,” she said.