Hardship: Tinubu’s wife empowers 1000 women, petty traders in Ebonyi

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu on Thursday, announced the empowerment of one thousand women who are mostly petty traders in Ebonyi state.

Oluremi revealed that the empowerment of the petty traders, through the Renew Hope Initiative, RHI, is targeted to alleviate poverty and sufferings by women, especially in the rural areas of the state.

Flagging off the programme at the Banquet Hall old Government House, Abakaliki, senator Tinubu said the gesture was part of the administration’s plan to boost economic prosperity of the country .

Oluremi, who was represented by the wife of Ebonyi state governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru noted that the initiative was part of the government plan to encourage small business owners and strengthen the country’s economy.

According to her: “I’m honored to be here today for the empowerment of 1,000 petty traders across the nation.

“This programme is part of our continued commitment to drive economic growth towards a better life for families”.

The wife of the President, Oluremi who noted that the programme was going simultaneously across the 36 -states and Federal Capital Territory, explained that thirty seven thousand women petty traders were selected for the fifty thousand naira grants per a person.

“This event is taking place simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and FCT as we are aware of the challenges faced by Small And Medium enterprises, especially our petty traders who formed the backbone of our local economy.

“These challenges, however, did not deter the strength of our women. I salute you all and celebrate your courage and resilience that keep you going to put food on the tables of your families.

“Today, through the Renew Hope Initiative empowerment programme, we are providing grants to a selected 1,000 petty traders per state with a grant of 50,000 each to re-capitalize and grow their business.

She added, “A total of one billion, eighty hundred and fifty million naira will be disbursed to thirsty seven thousand women petty traders across the nation. The grants that will be disbursed to our women today is to assist our women who are pretty traders to withstand the challenges faced in their businesses and expand their businesses, create more jobs and contribute more robustly to our economy.

“Economic empowerment remains a core objective of Renew Hope Initiative and it has consistently delivered on this promise to both women and youths across the six geopolitical zones to support the economic reform of the administration of His Excellency, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR”

“We recognize that empowering women economically is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one as when women thrive, their families thrive and by extension, our communities and nation prospers.

“I will like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our RHI state Coordinators and first ladies and everyone that makes this programme a reality, particularly the effort in identifying the traders, this is really commendable and to the 1000 petty traders who’re the beneficiaries of this programme I say you are the heart of our local economy and foundation of our communities and unsung heroes of our nation because you have shown the incredible resilience in overcoming countless challenges to build your businesses.

“Today, we celebrate your hard work and determination, let’s all continue to work together to build a Nigeria where every woman has the opportunity to succeed, where every small business needs to grow and contribute to our nation’s prosperity”. she said.