Women In Agriculture: First Lady Empowers Vulnerable Women In North Central, FCT

By: Our Reporter

No fewer than twenty vulnerable women in the Federal Capital Territory have benefitted from the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme, which was flagged off for the North Central Geo-Political Zone of the Country.

The event, which was held at the Government House, Jos, Plateau State, was organised by the office of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the six States of the North Central zone and FCT.

Speaking at the occasion, First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, said her coming to Plateau State is with heavy heart over recurring incidences of killings, but with renewed hope for a peaceful and better Nigeria.

Her words: “I commiserate with the Governor, all the affected parties and the people of Plateau State. I pray that the peace of God would reign on the Plateau. Today, we are flagging off the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme for the North Central Zone, in fulfillment of our promise to continue to promote the women folk, particularly, farmers across the nation”.

She said that the support programme were on-going simultaneously in three other Zones of the country, with the total sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira only) as support Grant to be shared among 20 beneficiaries in each State and the Federal Capital Territory.

Welcoming guests to the occasion, the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, commended the First Lady for initiating the empowerment for the good of women and the country at large.

“I want to thank the First Lady for agreeing to flag-off this empowerment in Plateau State. We owe much gratitude to Her Excellency for initiating this programme, having seen the need to empower disadvantaged people. I call them ‘disadvantaged’ because they have one limitation or the other, but despite the limitations, they are still useful to themselves and the society”, he said.

A beneficiary of the Empowerment Programme from Kuje Area Council of FCT, Veronica Okoye, expressed appreciation to the First Lady for empowering her; expressing optimism that her staple crops farming would increase yield in the coming farming season.

Another beneficiary who is living with disability, Victoria Sani, said the Empowerment would help her extend the same gesture to others in the value chain.

Also, Rhoda Kanda, who is a disabled farmer on wheel chair, said the Empowerment is enough motivation to help her do more in her corn and groundnuts farming.

Speaking to the Press at the side lines of the event, the Mandate Secretary of FCT Woman Affairs Secretariat and Coordinator of RHI for FCT, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi said, that FCT is proud to select 20 beneficiaries through inclusive engagement with the vulnerable, especially, People Living With Disability, who have topped the list.

Benjamins-Laniyi believed that the empowerment would change the narrative of women, by turning disability to ability of Renewed Hope in our dear country, Nigeria.