By Peter Omopo
September 2, 2025
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 500 women in Nasarawa State with grants of ₦50,000 each to boost small businesses and improve livelihoods under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The initiative, launched on Tuesday in Lafia, was organised in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has committed ₦1 billion to support 18,500 women nationwide.
Represented by Mrs. Tosin Akabe, wife of the state deputy governor, Tinubu said the empowerment scheme was designed to alleviate hardship among vulnerable women and strengthen household economies.
“This is not a loan. It is a grant, a seed of renewed hope to recapitalise your businesses. When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation,” the First Lady said.
She added that 500 women from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would receive ₦50,000 each as part of the nationwide rollout.
Nasarawa State First Lady, Silifat Abdullahi-Sule, commended the gesture, describing it as a significant step toward improving women’s welfare and economic independence. She urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely.
One of the recipients, Jemimah Abari, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude, saying the grant would help expand their businesses and improve their families’ livelihoods.
The event comes a month after Senator Tinubu inaugurated the wider RHI Economic Empowerment Programme, aimed at supporting women traders and small-scale entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
