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In a significant move to boost economic empowerment, the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has empowered 500 women entrepreneurs in Benue State with vital business tools. The event, held at the premises of the Benue Fertilizer and Chemical Company in the Industrial Layout, Makurdi, marked the North Central Zone as the first beneficiary of this nationwide program.
The initiative, organized through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is part of a simultaneous empowerment exercise across all six geopolitical zones. According to State Coordinator and Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor, the program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing inclusivity and sustainable economic growth.
Beneficiaries received a range of essential equipment, including deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines. Hon. Ben-Sor highlighted that the First Lady’s goal is to reduce poverty and strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) facing tough market competition. To ensure sustainability, a follow-up structure has been put in place to monitor progress and provide recapitalization support for those willing to expand their businesses.
The Benue State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hon. Teresa Odache Ikwe, expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady, whom she described as the “Mother of the Nation,” for her continuous support to women. She urged beneficiaries not to sell the items but to put them to meaningful use for the economic stability of their families, noting that family empowerment brings security and peace to society at large. The Commissioner also used the occasion to mobilize women ahead of the 2027 elections, encouraging them and their family members to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in preparation for future needs.
Hon. Ikwe further commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his inclusive leadership, pointing out that women occupy key positions in his administration, including the Secretary to the State Government, and make up 85 percent of local government vice chairpersons. She assured that Benue women remain solidly behind the governor’s administration and will continue to offer their support as the state moves toward the next elections.
The event concluded on a high note, with beneficiaries expressing gratitude and pledging to use the tools effectively to expand their businesses and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the local economy. The initiative is expected to reach 18,500 women across all six geopolitical zones, with Benue benefiting from two streams of intervention totaling 1,000 beneficiaries—500 from the RHI and Tony Elumelu Foundation women empowerment program, and another 500 from the RHI and SDGs initiative.
This empowering initiative underscores a collective effort to foster economic resilience and create a more secure future for families across Nigeria.
