The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed a N50 million grant to 1,000 women petty traders in Niger.

Mrs Tinubu, at the event on Wednesday in Minna, said that the grant and palliatives came from her Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme.

Mrs Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Niger State governor, Fatima Bago, said that the women would receive N50,000 each to grow and recapitalise their businesses.

She disclosed that about N1.8 billion would be disbursed to 37,000 women petty traders as grants across the country to help them expand their businesses and create more jobs.

She said, “This will assist our women in contributing more robustly to our economy as economic empowerment remains the “Renewed Hope Initiative” core objective. When women thrive, their families thrive, and by extension, our communities and nation prosper.’’

She said the RHI had been delivering on promises to women and youths across the six geopolitical zones to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

In her goodwill messages, Elizabeth Shaba, Commissioner for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, advised the women to use the money wisely to improve their living standard.

Some of the beneficiaries, Sa’adatu Mohammed and Precious Audi, appreciated the first lady and the wife of the governor for the gesture.

Also, Usman Mohammed, from the Crippled Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, thanked the first ladies for the palliatives, saying the food items would go a long way to support their families. 

(NAN)