The wife of the President, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has assisted 120 women and 200 Physically Challenged Persons across the six states of the Northeast with N500,000 and N100,000 respectively under her Renewed Hope Initiative and Women in Agriculture programme, The Courage.
Speaking at the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Women in Agriculture and Support to Disables for the Northeast at the Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu who is the chairperson of the initiative said aside from the region, other beneficiaries have been selected from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Kashim Shettima, said the 200 physically challenged persons in Borno would be supported with N100,000 each under the Social Investment Programme of the initiative.
She added that 20 women were selected from each of the six states across the Northeast to be supported with N500,000 for the Women in Agriculture programme.
Mrs. Tinubu stressed that each beneficiary is expected to invest the fund in poultry, fishery, and irrigation farming, noting that in addition to that, 80 women farmers would be identified in each state for agriculture, and she urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to expand their agricultural base.
“Our Every Home A Garden is still ongoing. The programme would encourage women to grow gardens in their homes to have food on their tables. A competition would be open to women in the garden, and the winner would go home with N20 million”, said Mrs. Tinubu.
The First Lady further disclosed that the Young Farmers Club would soon be launched for young farmers in primary and secondary schools.
She said the school with the best farm would be rewarded with the construction of a classroom equipped with laboratories and a library, among others.
Also speaking, the Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum lauded the First Lady’s programme, saying that the issue of job creation has been a priority of the state government due to its direct impact on the rural community.
He assured the wife of the President that the Northeast governors would support the agricultural programme, especially the Women in Agriculture.
Earlier in her welcome address, the wife of Borno State governor, Mrs Falmata Zulum clarified that the support offered to the 200 physically challenged persons is not a political gimmick, but a means of empowering them to own their businesses.
