The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), has provided N50,000 grants to 500 women in Plateau State to strengthen and expand their small businesses.
The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to empower women entrepreneurs, boost micro and small-scale enterprises, and promote grassroots economic growth.
Represented by Mrs Helen Mutfwang, wife of the Plateau State governor, the Federal Government said the scheme aims to support women-led businesses and enhance their contribution to local economies.
“I thank the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which donated N1 billion to directly support women across the nation,” Mrs Mutfwang said. “Five hundred women from each state and the FCT will receive N50,000 each to strengthen or recapitalise their small businesses.”
She clarified that the funds are grants, not loans, meant to uplift hardworking women who support their families and contribute to community development.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and a nation,” she added.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative. Elizabeth Pam, a farmer and mother of six, said she would invest the funds in her farm to boost production, while Zainab Idris, a mother of eight, said the grant would help expand her farming business.
Augustina Damanjei, a single mother of three, noted that the support would enable her to grow her poultry venture.
The partnership between the Federal Government and the Tony Elumelu Foundation highlights a shared commitment to promoting women’s entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, and sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria.
