From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has said that she’s disheartened by the escalation of killings in Plateau State.
She spoke at the launching of the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP) for the North Central zone in Jos on Tuesday
She prayed for the repose of the souls of all those affected by the recent clashes in the state.
Mrs. Tinubu, speaking on her Renewed Hope Initiative project, said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR recognized the pivotal role that agriculture plays in achieving sustainable
development and ensuring food sufficiency.
The wife of the president said that the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligned with the broader National agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector.
She said, “Today, we are flagging off the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural
Support Programme for the North Central Zone in fulfilment of our promise to continue to promote the womenfolk,
“As we speak, this programme is held simultaneously in three (3) other zones, namely: North East – Borno State; North West- Kebbi State, South West – Ogun State while that of South-South will be hosted at a later date.
“Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per State in the North Central Zone with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) each. To this end, a draft of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) per State for the North Central Zone will be handed over to the First Ladies of Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau who are also RHI State Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective States.
“The draft for the beneficiaries in Benue State and the FCT will be received by their respective RHI Coordinators. These are for farmers in the agrarian sector, animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming.
She said that the Renewed Hope Initiative will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower more potential farmers, adding that in this phase, 75% of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers while 25% will be young male farmers who will all be specially identified, trained and empowered.
Mrs. Tinubu stressed that the pre-identified eighty (80) women farmers in each State for the agricultural support programme will be carried along and implored women farmers receiving support to seize
this opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures, contribute to local national food production and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector.
The event also featured the empowerment of 100 Persons with Disability Small Business Owners in Plateau State, with N100,000 each to recapitalize their existing businesses.