500 businesswomen in Nasarawa State have benefitted from a ₦25 million business grant provided by Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
The initiative, carried out under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Women Economic Empowerment Programme, aims to support small-scale women entrepreneurs and boost grassroots economic development.
Speaking at the event in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu — represented by Hajia Silifat Abdullahi-Sule, wife of the Nasarawa State Governor — said the intervention is targeted at strengthening women-led businesses across Nigeria.
“This is not a loan. It is a grant from the ₦1 billion donated to our foundation by the Tony Elumelu Foundation and is a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalise your existing businesses,” the First Lady stated.
She explained that the programme would directly benefit 18,500 women nationwide — 500 from each of the 36 states and the FCT.
Boosting Women Entrepreneurs
According to Mrs. Tinubu, the programme is about supporting women traders and small-scale entrepreneurs who “daily strive to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.”
She stressed that empowering women ultimately translates into empowering households, communities, and the nation.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Mrs. Hawa Samuel-Jugbo, commended the First Lady and TEF for the gesture. She noted that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from across the 13 LGAs of the state, with women with disabilities also included to ensure inclusivity.
She urged the beneficiaries to use the grants for their intended purpose — to grow their businesses and improve family livelihoods.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Jemima Abari expressed appreciation to the First Lady and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, promising that the funds would be put to good use to expand their businesses.
