The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), an empowerment project of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has disbursed N25 million to support 500 women entrepreneurs in Oyo State.
The flag-off ceremony was held on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Agodi, Ibadan, where the wife of the acting Governor of Oyo State, Chief Mrs. Ajibola Lawal, represented the state’s First Lady and RHI Coordinator, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, at the event.
Speaking on behalf of Senator Tinubu, Mrs. Lawal said the financial empowerment programme was aimed at strengthening small businesses owned by women across Nigeria.
She explained that each beneficiary would receive N50,000 as a recapitalisation grant, adding that 500 women from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would benefit, making a total of 18,500 women nationwide.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a household and, by extension, a community. This grant is not just financial assistance; it is a seed of renewed hope,” she said, urging the beneficiaries to use the funds productively.
Mrs. Lawal commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for partnering with RHI, describing the collaboration as a boost to entrepreneurship and a lifeline for many families. She also expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and his wife for supporting the implementation of RHI programmes in Oyo State.
In her goodwill message, Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, described the initiative as timely and impactful.
“This empowerment has come at the right time when many women are battling to keep their small businesses alive. It is not just about money; it is about restoring dignity, building confidence, and giving women the wings to fly,” Balogun said.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Prof. Dahud Kehinde Sangodoyin, also praised the programme, stressing its wider economic benefits.
“This initiative is more than a grant; it is a catalyst for grassroots development. When women at the community level are financially strengthened, the economy grows from the bottom up,” Sangodoyin said.
Two beneficiaries, Mrs. Tegbe Monisola and Mrs. Owoseni Saidat, expressed their gratitude to the First Lady and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for the intervention.
Mrs. Tegbe said:
“This grant has given me the courage to expand my petty trading into a more stable business. I am grateful for this lifeline, and I promise to make good use of it.”
Mrs. Owoseni added: “Many of us have been struggling silently. This support is a breath of fresh air. I will reinvest it wisely, and I know other women here will do the same.”
Other dignitaries present included the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaja Faosat Joke Sanni, and the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Segun Olayiwola and others.
