The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), championed by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched a major economic support programme for women traders in Ekiti State with the distribution of ₦50,000 cash grants to 2,000 beneficiaries across the state.
The empowerment programme, which was carried out in partnership with the WAOH Support Foundation founded by the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, also provided working tools and business equipment to another 1,300 women in a move aimed at strengthening small businesses and improving household income across local communities.
The event, tagged “Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Empowerment of 2,000 Petty Traders and Ekiti First Lady’s Mega Empowerment”, was held at the Osuntokun Pavilion within the Government House in Ado Ekiti and attracted government officials, traditional leaders, women groups and beneficiaries from different parts of the state.
Speaking during the programme, Dr Oyebanji said the initiative aligns with the broader vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji to support vulnerable Nigerians, especially women traders, widows and low-income households struggling with economic challenges.
According to her, the intervention is designed to help women-owned businesses remain sustainable while also creating stronger grassroots economic opportunities in Ekiti State.
She explained that while 2,000 women received direct cash support of ₦50,000 each, another 1,300 beneficiaries received empowerment materials and equipment to improve their businesses and daily means of livelihood.
Some of the items distributed during the programme included deep freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, generators, hairdressing kits, dryers, coolers, hand basins and modern agricultural tools such as farm sprayers.
Dr Oyebanji said the programme goes beyond ordinary welfare support and is part of a larger economic inclusion effort targeted at women operating at the grassroots level.
“Today is another clear demonstration of our commitment to improving the lives of Ekiti people, especially our hard-working women, who remain the backbone of our homes, communities and economy,” she said.
She also praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu for what she described as consistent support for women and vulnerable groups across Nigeria, particularly in Ekiti State.
The Ekiti First Lady noted that the state has continued to benefit from several interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative since 2023, including the commissioning of an ICT Centre at Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the approval of a ₦100 million empowerment grant for women in the state.
“I sincerely appreciate our dear mother of the nation, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, for her consistent love and support for women across Nigeria, and particularly Ekiti State,” she added.
“Today, through her generosity, 2,000 Ekiti women will receive cash support of N50,000 to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods. We are deeply grateful for this noble gesture.”
She further explained that widows and vulnerable women formed a significant part of the beneficiaries selected for the programme, adding that the support was carefully structured to reach women who genuinely need economic assistance to remain productive.
According to her, the programme is also expected to improve financial stability among women-led households while supporting community-level enterprise growth.
Dr Oyebanji commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for what she described as people-focused governance and continued support for women empowerment initiatives in the state.
She disclosed that the Governor has pledged continuous payment of counterpart funds to ensure more women across other local government areas benefit from the Nigeria Women Project Scale-Up Community Investment Fund supported by the World Bank and the Ekiti State Government.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty through direct support for women entrepreneurs and small-scale traders.
Governor Oyebanji, represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, applauded Ekiti women for their contribution to economic activities and grassroots development in the state.
He said women remain critical to the growth of local economies and commended the beneficiaries for their resilience despite current economic realities.
The Governor also highlighted improvements recorded by his administration in the health sector, stating that child mortality in the state has reduced significantly from 40 per 1,000 to 18 per 1,000 under the current government.
He urged residents to continue supporting government programmes and also encouraged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the June 20 election activities in the state.
Several government officials and dignitaries present at the programme commended the Renewed Hope Initiative and the WAOH Support Foundation for sustaining direct community-focused interventions.
Among those who delivered goodwill messages at the event were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi; and Commissioner for Education, Dr Bimpe Aderiye.
Traditional leaders and royal representatives including the wives of the Ogoga of Ikere and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti also praised the intervention and described it as timely support for women facing economic pressure.
