ASABA: The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has empowered 1,000 women traders in Delta State as part of its drive to strengthen grassroots businesses and promote economic resilience.
The initiative, held in Asaba, marked the second edition of the empowerment programme, which provides financial grants not loans to women entrepreneurs.
According to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the scheme is designed to revitalize small-scale businesses and uplift families and communities.
It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation, she said in remarks delivered on her behalf by Tobore Oborevwori, wife of Delta State governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation has committed ₦1 billion to the project, which will benefit 18,500 women nationwide.
Under the arrangement, 500 women from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will receive ₦50,000 each to support their enterprises.
Tobore Oborevwori, represented by Catherine Onyeme, wife of the deputy governor, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, noting its role as a catalyst for economic growth.
She explained that additional support from the administration enabled the inclusion of another 500 traders, bringing the total number of Delta beneficiaries to 1,000.
Among the 1,000 recipients are Christian and Muslim women groups, wives of military and paramilitary personnel, journalists, and women from the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa communities, she said, stressing that the inclusivity of the programme reflects the spirit of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Beneficiaries were urged to apply the grants judiciously, encourage their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
She also called for continued prayers and support for both the state and federal administrations as they work to expand opportunities for women.
Evelyn Amirah, Special Assistant on Women Empowerment to Governor Oborevwori, noted that the programme is more than a financial package it represents long-term investment in families and communities, reinforcing government’s commitment to grassroots development.
