First Lady, Elumelu Foundation Empower 500 Nasarawa Women with ₦25 Million Grant
A total of 500 women entrepreneurs in Nasarawa State have received business support grants worth ₦25 million, courtesy of a partnership between the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
The initiative, implemented under the Renewed Hope Initiative—the First Lady’s flagship programme—forms part of a broader Women Economic Empowerment Programme aimed at strengthening small-scale businesses and boosting financial independence among women across Nigeria.
Speaking at the grant distribution event held on Tuesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Mrs. Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Hajia Silifat Abdullahi-Sule, said the programme seeks to enhance the capacity of women entrepreneurs to sustain and grow their businesses.
“This is not a loan,” Mrs. Tinubu clarified. “It is a grant drawn from the ₦1 billion donation made to our foundation by the Tony Elumelu Foundation. It is a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalise your existing businesses.”
She added that the initiative targets 18,500 women across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 500 women selected from each state.
“It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and ultimately, a nation,” the First Lady said.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Mrs. Hawa Samuel-Jugbo, expressed appreciation to the First Lady and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for the initiative. She explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from the 13 local government areas of the state, with special consideration given to women with disabilities to ensure inclusivity.
She urged the recipients to put the funds to good use and invest in their businesses to achieve long-term benefits for themselves and their families.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Jemima Abari thanked the First Lady and the foundation for the support and pledged that the funds would be used wisely to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
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