Tinubu’s wife unveils empowerment scheme for Delta petty traders

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled an empowerment initiative aimed at targeting 1000 women’s petty traders in Delta State.

According to her, the move is part of the present administration’s continued commitment to drive economic growth towards a better life for Nigerian families.

Addressing the beneficiaries on Thursday at the unveiling of the Renewed Hope Initiative in Asaba, Delta state, Mrs Tinubu said that the initiative was to boost Small and Medium Enterprises, especially the petty traders, who form the backbone of the nation’s local economies.

She said, “I bring warm greetings to the good people of Delta State from my husband, President Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I appreciate our host, the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori and his amiable wife, the First Lady of Delta State and RHI State Coordinator, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori for the warm reception and hospitality accorded us since our arrival.

“As we are all aware of the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises especially the petty traders, who form the backbone of our local economies, these challenges, however, have not deterred the strength of our women.

“I salute you all and celebrate your courage and resilience that keep you going, to put food on the table for your families.”

She stated that through the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme, the present administration is providing 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per state with a grant of N50,000 each to recapitalise and grow their businesses.

“A total of N1,850 billion will be disbursed to 37,000 women petty traders across the nation,” she noted.

The first lady said the grants provided were to assist women and petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expanding their businesses, creating more jobs, and contributing more robustly to the economy.

She said economic empowerment remains a core objective of the Renewed Hope Initiative and has consistently delivered on this promise for both women and youth across the six geopolitical zones to support the economic reforms of the present administration.

In her welcome address, the wife of the governor, Tobore Oborevwori, commended the first Lady for choosing Delta as flagged off state.

She said that governor Sheriff Oborevwori had donated N50 million to support the first Lady RHI economic Empowerment Programme, hence each beneficiary will get N100,000

Meanwhile, in an interview with some beneficiaries, who commended the initiative at this point in time, appealed to the President Bola Tinubu to reduce the price of fuel, goods and other items in the market, lamenting how long they will continue leaving on palliative.

“We appreciate the government but we are begging them to reduce the price of fuel and other things will come down so that the money will be meaningful when we get to market,” they appealed.