The Nigeria First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday reiterated the federal government's commitment to empowering women farmers, saying that this will enable them contribute to sustainable development of the country and as well assist in achieving food security in the country.
Senator Tinubu stated this at the launch of the Women Agricultural Support Program for South West under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta today, where 20 beneficiaries each from Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Osun where empowered.
She also at the event announced a cash grant of N100,000 each for 100 people living with disability in Ogun State which they are to plough into their various existing businesses to make lives more comfortable for them.
Senator Tinubu said the flagging off of the programme which was also being done simultaneously in Plateau for the North Central, Borno for the North East and Kebbi for the North West geopolitical zones, is to fulfil the present administration's pledge to continue to promote the women folk, particularly the farmers across the country.
She said, "the administration of President Bola Tinubu recognizes the important role the agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency.
"Therefore the Renewed Hope Initiative commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broader agenda to strengthen agricultural sector".
"Today, we are supporting 20 women per state in the South West with the sum of N500, 000 each. To this end, a draft cheque of N10m per state will be handed over to the first ladies who are the coordinators of this programme in each of the South-West states for disbursement to the beneficiaries".
The beneficiaries of the intervention are women in the agrarian sector, poultry as well as animal husbandry.
She urged the women farmers beneficiaries to seize the opportunity of the support received to expand their farming entrepreneurship, improve on their contribution to national and local food production and serve as role models to aspiring women in the country.
Tinubu called on all stakeholders including government officials, community leaders and non-governmental organisations to support local farmers and every efforts that could help to increase food production in the country.
Speaking earlier, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun lauded Mrs. Tinubu for the initiative, describing the gesture as quite exemplary and testimony to the visionary leadership of the First Lady.
Gov Abiodun revealed that the Women Agricultural Support Programme was no doubt a well thought out initiative which would no doubt further encourage women who are into agricultural practices and boost the food production across the country.
He explained that investment in women was quite important as any nation that invested in women was only investing in its future because women are mothers of nations.
He revealed that his administration has equally prioritised empowerment of women as over 50,000 of them have benefited from over N1.5bn Okowo Dapo, a financial assistance scheme initiated by his government to support the women among others.
Speaking earlier, wife of the State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun thanked the President's wife for working hard to make life much better for the women and the less privileged in the country through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Mrs Abiodun maintained that the gesture such as the Women Agricultural Support Programme would no doubt impact on the prosperity of the women farmers, but also helped in boosting food production in the country.
She equally lauded the first lady for championing the cause of people living with disability like never before calling on other members of the public to give support to these set of people to make life much better for them.
Dignitaries at the event included wives of all the governors from the South West as well as wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaete Apabio
Highlight of the programme includes presentation of farm inputs such as fertiliser, cassava stems, herbicides, bags of maize among others, to over 2,000 farmers in preparation for the 2024 planting season in the State.
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