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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Renewed Hope Initiative’s #EveryHomeAGarden contest has a winner, 62-year-old Veronica Kidafa Mbaya of Borno State. After the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND) declared an additional ₦5 million, she will receive a grand award of ₦25 million.
National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who announced the winner, commended the women who participated for their dedication to growing healthy food for their families and communities.
Speaking at the award event held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu encouraged women across Nigeria to embrace home gardening, emphasising its role in fostering food security and community well-being.
She thanked state first ladies and RHI coordinators for their vital contributions.
“After careful deliberations, with gratitude to God, I am happy to announce that the winner of the Renewed Hope Initiative ‘#EveryHomeAGarden’ Competition is Mrs. Veronica Kidafa Mbaya from Borno State. Congratulations to our winner,” First Lady Tinubu said.
She stated that the other 19 contestants would each receive ₦2.5 million, including contributions from NADFUND, state first ladies, and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The competition, launched on 25 October 2023, aimed to promote home gardening as part of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s food security drive.
According to First Lady Tinubu, finalists were selected after thorough inspections by delegations led by wives of top government officials.
State-level participants also received ₦1 million each for their entries, showcasing the broad engagement and impact of the initiative.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has decided to adopt the #EveryHomeAGarden program for nationwide implementation, reflecting its success.
The First Lady expressed gratitude to the ministry and NADFUND for their support.
“In reviewing the entries, members of the RHI Governing Board sat down to thoroughly select the best three entries. Delegations headed by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the wife of the Deputy Senate President, and the wife of the Chief of Staff travelled to Borno, FCT, and Sokoto to inspect the gardens before selecting the overall winner, as we have just seen in the documentary.
“We were all very impressed with the quality of entries, making it hard to choose a winner. As we have promised, the winner of the #EveryHomeAGarden Competition will be going home today with the sum of Twenty Million Naira (₦20,000,000.00).
“In addition, the RHI Governing Board has graciously approved the sum of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.00) to the finalists from each state who submitted entries to the RHI Office. I have also been informed that State First Ladies/RHI Coordinators will be giving an additional One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.00).
“As you have heard from the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND), Mr. Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, who has graciously announced an additional Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000) to the winner and Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000) each to the other nineteen (19) entries submitted, making it a total of Twenty-Five Million Naira (₦25,000,000.00) to the winner and Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦2,500,000) each to the other contestants. We appreciate NADFUND for this support.”
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The First Lady, however, urged participants to continue nurturing their gardens and inspire others to join the initiative, underscoring the importance of food security for all Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced plans to institutionalise the agricultural programs of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) under the newly adopted National Urban Agriculture Programme.
The initiative, including the #EveryHomeAGarden program, will be integrated into the ministry’s 2025 budget to ensure sustainability and nationwide implementation.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in his speech at the event, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to leveraging its research institutes, agricultural colleges, and extension services to support home gardening and other agricultural innovations.
He noted that these efforts align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for food security and economic development.
The minister commended the #EveryHomeAGarden competition for promoting creativity and dedication to sustainable household farming practices.
He emphasised that the program’s success underscores the importance of home gardening as a solution to food insecurity and a pathway to better nutrition and livelihoods.
In her welcome address, the National Vice Chairman of the RHI, Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, commended the creativity and dedication of the participants, highlighting the art and science of gardening and the resourcefulness displayed in the entries.
The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND), Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the additional prizes of ₦5 million and ₦500,000 each respectively for the winner and the other 19 contestants.
Speaking to journalists after the event, winner of the #EveryHomeAGarden competition, Mrs. Veronica Kidafa Mbaya, said she initially never expected to win the competition due to environmental challenges like heavy rain and drought experienced in her home state of Borno.
She expressed pride in successfully growing corn and vegetables despite the difficulties.
She also highlighted the demand for these vegetables and the joy she felt from providing for her family and community.
The winner, Mbaya said she anticipates increased expectations and the need to work harder, seeking divine support for health and wisdom to continue contributing positively.
She also plans to encourage others by sharing practical farming tips and fostering a sense of community through collective small-scale farming efforts.
The event had dignitaries from various sectors, including members of the National Assembly, state first ladies, spouses of the leadership of the National Assembly, spouses of service chiefs, as well as contestants from across the states.
