….. STARTING WITH 100 BENEFICIARIES IN IMO STATE
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and his wife, Chioma, have canvassed for improved national food security through strategic and coordinated empowerment of women who are involved in agribusiness.
They did in their different remarks during the maiden flag-off of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Agricultural Support Programme and National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA) for South East Geo-Political Zone in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Away from women farmers support programme, the ceremony was also used to empower 100 physically challenged men and women who were given cash of N100,000 each under the RHI Social Investment Support Programme to enable them to boost their businesses.
In her address, Mrs. Tinubu said that the RHI initiative aligns with the broader programme of the Federal Government aimed at engaging Nigerian Women in large scale agriculture as an empowerment and provision of food security for families, States and the Nation at large.
She pointed out that the support for the South East women in the instant ceremony is a two-in-one programme where 20 women per-State will receive N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira each), and NALDA will support 80 women farmers with farm inputs and training.
She said the financial support is to enhance productivity, while the training is to reduce waste and enhance yield.
The First Lady who said the target is to empower two million women farmers implored the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to improve their agricultural scope and contribute to food production to both the state and the nation, and also to advance their overall productivity.
She emphasized that the programme will contribute to the economic improvement of the Southeast zone, put more food on our tables and reduce hunger in our land,
She, therefore, urged the governors to support the programme and the women farmers to make a huge success of the initiative.
In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma thanked the First Lady for the initiative and gesture, describing the day as remarkable because it will make our women farmers more dedicated and food security will be assured.
Governor Uzodimma further thanked the wife of Mr. President for the empowerment support programme and for flagging-off the programme in the Southeast, urging the beneficiaries to ensure the programme succeeds and the objectives realized.
He, however, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the First Lady to ensure success of the initiative, stressing that the programme is in keeping with Mr. Presidents campaign manifesto and promises.
In her welcome address, the wife of Imo State Governor who is also Secretary of the Governing Council of RHI, Barr (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma said that the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme is headed by Mrs Tinubu and that it signifies a profound commitment to the empowerment of women.
She noted: The empowerment of women through agriculture will solve the problem of food security, engender progress and development of any society. Also, it goes a long way towards achieving gender equality and building a more inclusive prosperous community.
Mrs. Uzodimma emphasized that the agricultural support programme is significant avenue for women to, not only create economic opportunities, but also contribute to food security, sustainable development and upliftment.
She added: The agricultural support programme seeks to harness the potentials of women in agriculture by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to excel in the sector.
By empowering our women, we are not only uplifting individual lives but also transforming communities and society as a whole.
NALDA disclosed that it made provision for the empowerment of two million women in animal husbandry, fishery, Poultry, snail farming and others, in addition to arranging for off-takers for a ready market.
The highpoint of the event was the show case of the different agricultural inputs and thereafter, distribution to the benefitting women farmers from South East.
Wives of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, that of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, and those of the Governors of Abia (Mrs. Priscilla Otti), Anambra (Mrs. Nonye Soludo), Ebonyi (Mrs. Mary- Maudline Nwifuru), Enugu (Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah), as well as those of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila and the Service Chiefs joined Mrs. Tinubu at the event.
