The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun disbursing N10 million grants to 20 women farmers in the FCT.

The grant is under First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Women Agricultural Empowerment programme.

The Mandate secretary of the secretariat, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, explained during the disbursement in Abuja on Friday that each beneficiary would receive N500,000.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi, also the FCT coordinator of the RHI, said the disbursement marked an important milestone in the efforts to support vulnerable women in expanding their micro-investments in agriculture.

She explained that the N500,000 grant would significantly help each beneficiary expand their agricultural production as a sustainable means of livelihood.

According to her, the Women Agricultural Empowerment programme was designed to support and empower women in the North-Central zone of Nigeria.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi said the women were selected from the six area councils of the FCT, adding that they would also receive a free health insurance scheme from the Health Secretariat of the FCTA.

The mandate secretary said that the women would be closely monitored to ensure efficient use of the grant.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi also announced a N7.5 million reward for women who record the best harvest yield.

She said the woman who recorded the best yield would receive a N5 million reward; the second best would get N1.5 million, while the third best would go home with N1 million.

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the secretariat, Adetoyi Kolawole, said, “The initiative aligns with the secretariat’s mission, which aims to promote gender equality and empower women.”

Kolawole advised the beneficiaries to utilise the grant judiciously, adding that the secretariat would monitor the utilisation of the fund.

One of the beneficiaries, Victoria Sani, a poultry farmer from the Kurudu community, Abuja Municipal Area Council, commended the First Lady for the support, which she described as life-changing.

(NAN)