FG,NGO disburse cash grants to 500 women in Zamfara
Gusau: The Office of the First Lady, under the Renewed Hope Initiative, has distributed cash grants to 500 small and medium-scale businesswomen in Zamfara.
The grants were distributed to beneficiaries on Tuesday in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Speaking at the event in Gusau, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, said the women’s economic empowerment programme was launched to recapitalise 500 businesswomen with N50,000 each.
Represented by the Wife of Zamfara Governor, Hajiya Hurria Lawal, Mrs Tinubu noted that the distribution was more than a financial gesture.
She said” It was a powerful symbol of opportunity for carefully selected women across the state.” The first lady emphasised that the support was not a loan to be repaid but an investment in the resilience, hard work, and indomitable spirit of Nigerian women.
“The nominated businesswomen were chosen because they genuinely needed the intervention to grow their businesses and improve their families’ livelihoods.”
Mrs Tinubu also appreciated the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its remarkable donation of 1 billion Naira towards Nigerian women.
According to her, it demonstrates that collaboration between government and the private sector, guided by compassion and vision, can transform lives.
In addition to the cash grant, each beneficiary received a bag of rice and a transportation allowance to return home and continue growing their businesses.
“Do not share it with anyone else; embrace this opportunity with courage and determination,” she advised.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Social Development, Dr Aisha Anka, expressed gratitude to the first lady.
Anka said: “I am deeply grateful to our mother, the first lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for listening to our women’s aspirations and her tireless efforts to restore dignity and hope to our citizens.
” Your leadership reminds us that through greatness we can uplift the most vulnerable amongst us and raise them to a bitter life and economic prosperity.”
She called on beneficiaries to consider the gesture as more them financial support, “it is a message of comfort that can change the narrative of your status for a bitter wellbeing.
