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From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi and Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Wife of the president, Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed N70 million to 140 women farmers in the North West region.
The gesture saw 20 women in agriculture from each of the seven states going home with N500,000 each, disbursed under Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP).
She also disbursed N100,000 each to 100 persons living with disabilities in the region.
The First Lady, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries said the Federal Government would continue to empower women to contribute to sustainable development while also helping to achieve food security.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, she said the maiden edition of the scheme was launched in February in Imo State to encourage women farmers to grow more food in line with the agricultural agenda of the Tinubu administration.
The first lady, who was represented by the wife of the speaker, House of Representatives, Fatima Tajuddeen Abbas, in Birnin Kebbi, affirmed commitment to energise women in agriculture to improve production, including animal husbandry.
“Agriculture plays pivotal role in achieving sustainable development and food security. Consequently, we are introducing ‘Every Home a Garden’ competition to encourage each Nigerian woman cultivate a garden at home to feed the family and share with neighbours, we want to see food on every table,” she said.
She disclosed the winner of the competition would pocket N20 million star prize.
The ceremony was attended by wives of the governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa and Kano states who also gave goodwill messages.
In Jos, she said she was disheartened by the escalation of killings in Plateau State. She prayed for the repose of the souls of all those affected in the recent clashes in the state.
“Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per state in the North Central zone with N500,000 each. To this end, a draft of 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 the Renewed Hope Initiative will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower more potential farmers, adding that in this phase, 75 per cent of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers while 25 per cent will be for young male farmers who will all be specially identified, trained and empowered.
Tinubu stressed that the pre-identified 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 recapitalise their existing businesses.
