A wave of economic empowerment is sweeping through Rivers State as hundreds of women received tricycles under the new “Queen Riders” initiative, an ambitious credit-backed ownership scheme aimed at putting more women on the road and into the driver’s seat of their own economic futures.
At least 100 of the 3,700 tricycles earmarked for the nationwide scheme have been allocated to Rivers State. The local rollout was officially launched on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), in partnership with Gamma Mobility, and forms part of CREDICORP’s S.C.A.L.E. program (Securing Consumer Access for Local Enterprises), which aims to link Nigerian consumers with domestically produced goods through accessible credit.
Speaking at the launch, Uzoma Nwagba, Managing Director of CREDICORP, described the scheme as more than a transport solution; it’s a bold step toward economic inclusion. “These tricycles aren’t just vehicles,” Nwagba said. “They represent ownership, autonomy, and agency for women delivered through structured, affordable credit and made in Nigeria.”
The scheme is designed to help women not only own and operate tricycles but also repay the cost gradually. It leverages locally assembled tricycles from Simba TVS, a manufacturer that produces around 1,170 tricycles and motorbikes daily in Nigeria. CREDICORP’s credit approach ensures that beneficiaries can acquire these assets without needing to make full upfront payments.
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With support from partner financial institutions like Accion Microfinance Bank, the programme also aims to boost household incomes and stimulate local manufacturing, effectively turning every loan into both a personal win and a national economic boost.
“We’re solving for household dignity and industrial growth at the same time,” Nwagba added, noting that CREDICORP has already recorded over 100,000 beneficiaries through similar schemes involving solar systems, laptops, mobile phones, and more.
He emphasised the importance of a credit-based economy over the traditional cash-and-carry model, arguing that it’s not sustainable for income earners to wait until they have full cash before acquiring essential items. The initiative is closely aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s long-held belief in credit-driven economic growth, according to Nwagba. “Our philosophy is shaped by a vision that predates his presidency,” he said.
Beyond the Queen Riders, CREDICORP is running complementary programmes such as YouthCRED, targeted at youth and NYSC members, and C.A.L.M, which supports clean energy and CNG access. All are geared toward the same goal: equipping everyday Nigerians with tools that directly improve quality of life.
Sam Esiri, Co-founder of Gamma Mobility, in his welcome address, said the Queen Riders scheme is about “women riding forward.” He emphasised that the programme is not just about motor ownership, but unlocking long-term opportunities for Nigerian women.
The excitement among the first set of beneficiaries was palpable. One of them, Eucharia Enyindah, described the opportunity as a “prayer answered,” and vowed along with other recipients to meet the scheme’s repayment terms through daily returns. As tricycles roll out across Rivers State under the Queen Riders banner, these women aren’t just passengers in the journey toward national development. They’re in the driver’s seat.
