MINNA (SUNDIATA POST)- Wife of the President Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday distributed empowerment tools to 500 women in Niger to unlock new opportunities of business in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items are deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, power generating sets, and industrial grinding machines.
Tinubu said the items were being done under the SDGs/RHI women empowerment programme for Zone B and C in Niger.
Tinubu, represented by Hajiya Fatima Bago, Wife of Niger Governor and the state Coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), described the day as “a special day for the hardworking women of Niger state.”
According to Tinubu, the programme is for 18,500 women across the country with 500 women benefitting from each state.
She noted that the programme was designed to give women the power to build a future of dignity and self-reliance, adding that women were the backbone of homes and communities.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a family. And when families are strong, society thrives,” she said.
She urged the women receiving the empowerment tools to make the most of them, use them to grow their businesses, support their families, and inspire other women around them.
Earlier, Mrs Elizabeth Shaba, Commissioner for Small Medium Enterprises (SME) in Niger, cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items, urging them instead to utilise them to improve their economic conditions.
She appreciated the wife of the President and the wife of the governor of Niger for the gesture and their continuous support to women in the state.
Similarly, Mrs Mary Berje, Special Adviser to Niger Governor on Women’s Affairs, advised the beneficiaries to consider themselves lucky to be among the beneficiaries of the items
She urged them to use the items to improve their economic conditions.
The Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouk, expressed gratitude to Mrs Tinubu and Mrs Bago, advising the beneficiaries to make judicious use of them to better their lots.
Hajiya Titi Auta, Commissioner for Women Affairs in Niger, represented by Hadiza Sheru, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, appealed to the beneficiaries to start up a business to support their families.
Two of the beneficiaries, Amina Hassan and Hauwa Iliyasu, expressed their gratitude for the empowerment programme, promising to utilise the items wisely.
(NAN)
