Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has rolled out a ₦1 billion empowerment programme targeting 18,500 women across the country. The initiative, launched under the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, aims to provide small-scale female entrepreneurs with capital to enhance their businesses.

Speaking at the official launch in Minna, Niger State, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the programme would grant ₦50,000 each to 500 women per state, including the Federal Capital Territory. She noted that the support is not a loan, but a non-repayable seed fund designed to stimulate grassroots economic activities through women-led ventures.

“With this grant, we are planting seeds of transformation in homes and communities,” the First Lady said. “It’s not just about money—it’s about restoring dignity, strengthening households, and giving women the tools to succeed economically.”

The Tony Elumelu Foundation donated ₦1 billion to the initiative, which aligns with its long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship development across Africa. Mrs. Tinubu expressed deep appreciation to the foundation, describing the gesture as a landmark example of effective collaboration between public leadership and the private sector.

Hajiya Fatima Bago, wife of the Niger State governor, hailed the programme’s impact, stating that such direct grants to women would have far-reaching consequences in education, healthcare, and food security at the family and community levels. “This is more than empowerment; it’s a revolution of possibilities for women who have long been the silent backbone of our economy,” she added.

Also present, the Special Adviser to Governor Umaru Bago on Women and Affirmative Action, Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje, described the First Lady’s efforts as a beacon of hope for many struggling families. “At a time of economic hardship, her actions offer more than relief, they rekindle dreams and restore resilience in Nigerian women,” she said.