Encouraging women empowerment, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called upon the wives of the 36 state governors to select one tertiary institution and 100 farmers from their respective states to benefit from intervention programs under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The selected group of 100 farmers will consist of 25 men and 75 women, as part of the efforts to promote gender equality in agriculture.
This initiative stems from a collaboration between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Renewed Hope Initiative, focusing on improving infrastructure and human capital development in tertiary institutions across the country.
Addressing the quarterly meeting with Renewed Hope Initiative Zonal and State Coordinators – comprising the wives of state governors, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized, “You are to nominate a tertiary institution in your state, it could be Federal or state-owned. The first phase of this intervention would be per zone.”
In a statement released by the First Lady’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, titled ‘First Lady Oluremi Tinubu says Education is a veritable tool to actualize women’s rights,’ Tinubu highlighted the importance of education in empowering girls and women to make informed decisions.
Tinubu also announced a new partnership between the Renewed Hope Initiative and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at supporting 100 farmers in each state.
“They are ready to provide support to 100 farmers. You are to provide the 75 young women and 25 young men who are already into farming or are ready to go into farming,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of youth participation in agriculture to benefit both individuals and the nation.
Furthermore, the First Lady urged governors’ wives to promote youth engagement in the Unity Fabric competition, offering a prize of N25m to encourage participation.
The meeting also discussed the ongoing Every Home a Garden competition, encouraging first-time women farmers to cultivate gardens at home to enhance food security for themselves and their communities.
Tinubu also highlighted the upcoming Women in Agriculture Support Program, which commenced in Imo State and is scheduled to roll out in other regions, with Ogun State being the next destination on April 16.
As the meeting provided an avenue for the First Lady to extend Ramadan greetings to Muslim faithful, she expressed prayers for increased peace and development in the country.