No fewer than 3,300 women across Ekiti State have received cash grants and empowerment tools worth over ₦100 million through a collaborative intervention of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu and the WAOH Support Foundation founded by Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji.
At a colourful empowerment programme tagged “Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Empowerment of 2,000 Petty Traders and Ekiti First Lady’s Mega Empowerment”, held at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, beneficiaries received direct financial support and essential working tools aimed at boosting small-scale enterprises and improving household incomes.
Of the beneficiaries, 2,000 petty traders received cash grants of ₦50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative, while another 1,300 women, including widows and vulnerable individuals were supported with various empowerment items through the WAOH Support Foundation.
The distributed items included deep freezers, generators, sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing kits, modern farm sprayers and other agricultural inputs designed to strengthen women-owned businesses and expand economic opportunities at the grassroots.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Oyebanji described the initiative as a deliberate intervention targeted at empowering women economically, reducing poverty and creating sustainable livelihoods for families across the state.
She noted that the programme reflects the shared commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji to improve the welfare of women, petty traders, widows and other vulnerable groups.
The First Lady expressed profound appreciation to Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her continuous support for Ekiti State, citing the recent commissioning of an ICT Centre at Ekiti State University and the ₦100 million grant provided for women empowerment as evidence of her commitment to uplifting women and communities.
“Today is another clear demonstration of our commitment to improving the lives of Ekiti people, especially our hardworking women who remain the backbone of our homes, communities and economy,while commending the First Lady of Nigeria for her unwavering support for women across the country, I also believe this empowerment would go a long way in the lives of our women”. She said.
Dr. Oyebanji also lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his people-focused leadership, which she said has continued to attract development initiatives and opportunities to the state.
She disclosed that the Governor remains committed to ensuring women in all local government areas benefit from the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up through the prompt payment of counterpart funds.
She further urged residents who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so and participate actively in the forthcoming June 20 election.
Representing the Governor at the event, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, commended Ekiti women for their resilience, productivity and immense contributions to community and economic development.
He highlighted achievements of the administration in the health sector, particularly the significant reduction in child mortality rates across the state.
Dignitaries at the event, including the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Mojisade Afuye, Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju, commissioners, traditional rulers’ wives and other stakeholders, praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her impactful interventions in Ekiti State and encouraged residents to remain engaged in the democratic process.
Some of the beneficiaries, including some people with disabilities thanked the first lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the continuous empowerment.
They also described the gesture of the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji as timely and the one the one that would cushion the effects of the current economy.
The event marked another major milestone in the drive to empower women, strengthen small businesses and promote inclusive economic growth across Ekiti State.