Female petty traders in Plateau have commended Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for financially supporting 1,000 women across the 17 local government areas, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

The beneficiaries were given ₦50,000 each as part of the RHI’s Economic Empowerment Programme, aimed at driving economic growth and enhancing the livelihoods of petty traders.

The disbursement was done Monday in Jos, the state capital.

One of the beneficiaries, Blessing Emmanuel, a meat seller, said the gesture by Mrs Tinubu showed that the present administration had the interest of women at heart.

Ms Emmanuel said the grants would go a long way in boosting their businesses.

Another beneficiary, Rhoda Danladi, a corn seller, said the grant would enable her to get bags of maize for storage business.

Tank Hamza, a charcoal seller, said the grant would enable her to expand her business.

Ms Hamza applauded the first lady and appealed that the gesture be sustained.

Mrs Tinubu said the Recapitalisation Grant for Petty Traders was targeted to provide 1,000 pre-selected women traders in Plateau with capital to expand and stabilise their businesses and create more jobs.

The First Lady, represented by the wife of the Plateau governor, Helen Mutfwang, acknowledged the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Mrs Tinubu, however, praised the zeal of SMEs, particularly petty traders, in overcoming challenges to provide for their families.

She stressed that economic empowerment was a core objective of RHI to support the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“We recognise that empowering women economically is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one.

“When women thrive, their families thrive, and by extension, our communities and nation prosper,” she said.

(NAN)