500 women benefit from Renewed Hope Initiative Scheme in Kwara

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Five hundred women in Kwara State have benefitted from the Renewed Hope Initiative Support Scheme of Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, over the weekend.

The First Lady of Kwara State, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, on behalf of Mrs. Tinubu, distributed empowerment items, including deep freezers, grinding machines, and gas cookers/ovens, to the beneficiaries in Ilorin, the state capital.

Mrs. AbdulRazaq said the empowerment scheme was implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative Support Scheme of the First Lady and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

“This event is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the economic empowerment of women and the promotion of entrepreneurship. It marks a significant stride in our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and progressive society.

“This round of the Renewed Hope Women Empowerment Initiative is designed to support the ventures of five hundred women in the state and put them on the path to self-reliance and financial independence.

“The selected beneficiaries of this phase of the scheme will receive deep freezers, power generating sets, grinding machines, and gas cookers/ovens to enable them to engage in their trades and cushion the effect of the economic situation,” she said.

Mrs. AbdulRazaq recalled that on August 1, 2024, the Renewed Hope Initiative, in collaboration with its partners, granted scholarships to 200 Nigerian students, including five from Kwara State.

“On December 21, 2024, the Renewed Hope Initiative distributed ₦200,000 each to 250 elderly people in Kwara State through its Elderly Support Scheme. Also, in April, ₦500,000 was presented to twenty women farmers through the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme, while over fifty thousand exercise books were distributed to schoolchildren through the Renewed Hope Initiative Education Support Scheme in the state,” she said.

She commended the immense support of Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for women in the state through various empowerment schemes under the State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP).

“In complementing this drive and promoting the welfare of our people, my office and the Ajike People Support Centre have, over the years, trained and equipped women and youths in vocations such as sewing, jewelry making, confectionery production, and makeup artistry, among others.

“We continue to encourage youth entrepreneurship while leading advocacy efforts to curb drug abuse, gender-based violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and other social issues that directly impact the people. We have also provided food support to households and assisted businesses with financial grants.

“In closing, I enjoin all beneficiaries of this generous gesture from the Mother of the Nation and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President to make judicious use of the items presented to them to support their businesses and improve their households,” she said.