In a deliberate effort to encourage women farmers and boost food production across the Nation twenty women from Cross River State benefitted from the Women Agricultural Support Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative with a charge to maximize the grant they have received and contribute to the enhancement of food production for sustenance.
Accepting the cheque of 10 million naira on behalf of the beneficiaries at the flag off ceremony of the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme for the South South Geo-Political Zone at the Banquet Hall of the Government House Uyo, Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu lauded the First Lady of the Nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for encouraging women to strive to do better in the agricultural sector.
Rev. Eyoanwan Otu reiterated the role of women in national development, inferring that as home managers, she is positive that they will put to judicious use the grant from RHI and ensure that there is a boost in food production. She restated her readiness to support the RHI of the President’s wife through her office towards a better life for Nigerians.
In her keynote address, the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu that the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broadened national agenda to strengthen the agriculture sector. “today we are supporting twenty women par State in the South-South Zone with the sum of five hundred thousand naira, each. To this end, a draft of ten million naira per State for the south South Zone will be handed over to the first ladies of the States, who are also RHI State Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective States,” she added.
The President’s Wife who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, and the National Vice Chairman, RHI, Hajia Nana Shettima stated that these farmers are those in the agrarian sector, animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming. She added that the RHI will soon be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower potential farmers. “70% of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers while 25% will be for our young male framers. They will all be specially identified, trained and empowered,” she informed.
She implored the women farmers being empowered to use this opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures to contribute to local and national food production and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector, according to her, “I have confidence that this initiative will not only transform the lives of the individual beneficiary but also contribute to food sufficiency in the South South Zone.” She urged all stakeholders to work together to support local farmers to ensure food security in our communities and the nation at large.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno commended the President’s wife for her humanitarian disposition of the RHI, adding that through the RHI Programmes, vulnerable groups all over the nation were given financial support in 2023. “Today, we are gathered here again to launch this great initiative for the South South Region, as our nation grapples with challenging economic environment leading to the skyrocketing of prices of food. This programme will help support our farming population and ensure that we get back to the farm,” to ensure food security for all adding that a nation that cannot feed herself is in dire danger. He expressed optimism that the RHI will impact positively on farmers and pledged the support of his administration to supporting the initiatives of the President’s wife in touching the lives of people in the rural communities.
Also speaking, the Zonal Chairman, South South Renewed Hope Initiative and Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Gloria Diri the initiative to reach out and empower the women of the South South Region is deserving of a loudest ovation, adding that we are an “agrarian society, agriculture and aquaculture are our major occupation before the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Olobiri, Bayelsa State.” She added that the Wives of Governors in the region have rolled out different programmes targeted at reducing poverty, hunger, gender inequality, gender and sexual based violence within the ambit of available resources and also leveraging on support from well meaning individuals and organizations and our efforts are not enough, hence we are happy seeing an empowerment of this magnitude.
In her welcome address, the Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno stated that “today we are here to witness the empowerment of twenty women in agriculture per State by our dear First Lady, who will also be supporting 100 small business owners of persons with disabilities with fund under the RHI business re-capitalization grant. These are crucial steps towards a more inclusive and sustainable society. As we all know women in agriculture often face different challenges including limited access to resource, land and education. By empowering this crop of women, we can unlock their full potentials, increase food security and boost economic growth in rural communities.”
According to her, “individuals with disabilities make viable contributions in business and other fields, hence the need to create inclusive opportunities for them to participate fully in economic development, receive trainings and access support in economic activities to overcome barriers. This is exactly what RHI seeks to achieve with the social investment programme.” She commended the First lady for empowering women in agriculture and people with disability, describing it as a development that promotes equality and leads to innovation and diversity. She implored the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds that will be received to expand on their existing ventures, pledging to key into the many laudable initiatives of the RHI bordering on Education, Health, Economic, Social Investment and Agriculture.
Also present at the flag off for the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme, South South Geo-Political Zone were: the Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio; Wife of the Speaker of the House of Representative Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas; Wife of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative Dr. Ezinne Kalu; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State Se. Akon Eyakenyi; Wife of the Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titiloa Adeleke; Wife of the Imo State Governor, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma; Wife of the Delta State Governor, Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori; Wife of the Ondo State Governor Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa; wife of the Minister for Works, Mrs. Rachael Umahi; among others.
Esther Okoi
