500 Women Rise As First Lady Delivers Massive Empowerment In Ondo

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 500 women in Ondo State with ₦50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, implemented in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The event, held at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure, is part of a nationwide scheme aimed at providing business recapitalisation grants to 18,500 women entrepreneurs across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Represented by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, Senator Tinubu explained that the Ondo programme followed the symbolic launch in Niger State, where 50 women first received grants.

She emphasised that the initiative seeks to support women traders and small-scale business owners whose daily efforts sustain families, educate children, and uplift communities.

Stressing that the support is not a loan but a grant, she described it as “a seed of renewed hope” to help beneficiaries re-capitalise their businesses.

According to Ireporter Online, the First Lady expressed appreciation to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for donating ₦1 billion to the RHI, enabling 500 women per state to benefit from ₦50,000 each.

She also commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his wife for their support in facilitating the programme’s rollout in Ondo State.

Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and RHI coordinator, Dr Seun Osamaye, urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, promising close monitoring across all 18 local government areas to ensure the grants are applied judiciously.

She described the gesture as unprecedented and credited the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa, Mrs Tinubu, and Mrs Esther Aiyedatiwa for making it possible.

Some recipients, according to Ireporter Online, expressed deep gratitude to the First Lady and the Governor’s wife, pledging to invest the funds to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”