The Nigerian First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the Renewed Hope Initiative in Owerri, Imo State to support women farmers to boost food production and create wealth.
Mrs Tinubu in her address said, “The Renewed Hope Initiative was committed to supporting women farmers, which aligns with a broader national agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector.”
She stressed that the initiative is a 2-in-1 programme to support women farmers nationwide.
The First Lady explained that the initiative will support 20 women farmers per state with the sum of N500,000 each making it a total of 10 million Naira per state.
Beneficiaries of the scheme, numbering 200 were provided with a kit that consisted of Maize seeds, Liquid fertilisers and herbicides enough to cater for one hectare of maize farm.
The total targeted hectarage for this particular group is 200 hectares.
Another group of 200 beneficiaries each got 25 2-week-old poultry birds, one battery cage and 3 bags of feeds that would last till the birds mature.
Mrs Tinubu presented bank drafts of 10 million naira each to the Southeast First Ladies.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, in his speech said NALDA was committed to partnering with the First Lady in encouraging women, especially the young ones, in agribusiness.
He assured the First Lady that NALDA would go with her across the country to make sure they touch the lives of the people.
“NALDA has made provision for two million women under this programme, supporting and working with the wife of the President,” he said.
In her welcome address, the First Lady of Imo State, Chioma Uzodimma, and zonal chairman of Southeast, Renewed Hope Initiative, appreciated the President and the First Lady for their support and commitment towards the success of the initiative, noting that it signifies a profound commitment to the empowerment and upliftment of women across the nation.
“As we all know, the empowerment of women fuels the progress and building of a more inclusive, prosperous community,”
The Renewed Hope Initiative by the First Lady is a grassroots scheme designed to improve the lives of people across the country.
The scheme which aims at empowering women farmers and tackling poverty was flagged off in collaboration with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority.
