By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi
About 500 women entrepreneurs in Benue State have received vital business tools to boost their livelihoods, thanks to the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The empowerment event, held on Friday at the Industrial Layout in Makurdi, was organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in collaboration with RHI. The programme forms part of a broader initiative targeting 18,500 beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with simultaneous exercises held across the North Central region.
Represented at the event by the Benue State RHI Coordinator and Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor, the First Lady emphasized that the empowerment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Senator Tinubu stated that the equipment provided would enable women to expand their businesses, foster financial independence, and contribute to national prosperity while creating secure futures for their families.
Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor clarified that the initiative was solely the First Lady’s vision and not a state government programme. She expressed gratitude that Benue benefitted from two streams of support, reaching a total of 1,000 women—500 from the RHI-Tony Elumelu Foundation partnership, and another 500 from the RHI-SDGs collaboration.
She also noted that structures have been established to ensure follow-up, monitor progress, and provide recapitalization support to women willing to scale up their businesses.
In her remarks, the Benue State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Theresa Odache Ikwe, praised the First Lady for her continued support to women, describing her as the “Mother of the Nation.” She urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the equipment and avoid selling the items. She also encouraged women to mobilize and secure their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Commissioner acknowledged Governor Hyacinth Alia’s inclusive leadership, highlighting the significant number of women holding key positions in his administration, including the Secretary to the State Government.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the First Lady and pledged to put the tools to effective use in expanding their businesses and improving their families’ economic well-being.
Items distributed at the event included deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines.
