The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and with support from the Rivers State Government, has empowered 1,000 women in Rivers State with cash grants of ₦50,000 each to boost their small and medium-scale businesses.
At the Women Economic Empowerment Programme held on Thursday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, 500 women received the ₦50,000 grant jointly provided by RHI and the TEF, while the Rivers State Government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his wife Lady Valerie Fubara, provided the same amount to another 500 beneficiaries, bringing the total number of empowered women to 1,000.
Represented by Lady Valerie Fubara, Senator Tinubu said the initiative was designed to support women traders and small business owners who display resilience and commitment in sustaining their families and communities.
“Let me emphasize that this is not a loan. It is a grant and a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalize existing businesses. I strongly believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed a nation,” she said.
The First Lady expressed gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its ₦1 billion donation to the RHI to empower 18,500 women nationwide, with 500 women in each of the 36 states and the FCT receiving ₦50,000 each.
She also commended Governor Fubara and his wife for their unwavering support in implementing the RHI programmes in Rivers State, urging other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Tony Elumelu’s spirit of generosity.
In her remarks, Lady Valerie Fubara noted that the empowerment initiative aims to strengthen women’s economic capacity and enable them to address immediate financial challenges.
“The Renewed Hope Initiative has over the past two years provided agricultural, economic, and educational support to families, and this programme continues that legacy,” she stated.
“At today’s event, 500 women are benefitting from the RHI–TEF partnership, while another 500 are receiving the same amount courtesy of the Rivers State Government. This collaboration underscores our collective commitment to improving the economic capacity of women in the state,” she added.
Lady Fubara urged other organizations, corporate bodies, and business interests to partner with the RHI in expanding opportunities for women, emphasizing that Governor Fubara’s administration is committed to empowerment programmes that create lasting value.
In her goodwill message, Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Lady Valerie Fubara for their collaborative efforts in uplifting Rivers women and lauded Governor Fubara for prioritizing women’s economic inclusion.
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Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roselyne Apawari Uranta, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady for championing initiatives that promote women’s financial independence.
Similarly, Justice Mary Odili (rtd) praised the First Lady and Governor Fubara’s administration for their continuous support toward improving the lives of women in Rivers State.
The event was marked by the symbolic presentation of cash grants to selected beneficiaries who expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunity.
