Renewed Hope Initiative: Nigeria's First Lady Empowers Women, Youth, on Agricultural Programme

Renewed Hope Initiative: Nigeria’s First Lady Empowers Women, Youth on Agricultural Programme

By Adesuwa Ehimuan

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed agricultural support materials to women, youth, and children across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

The renewable hope initiative was supervised by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani aims to empower women through sustainable agricultural practices.

The distributed materials include poultry chicks, improved seedlings, farm implements, and more. The programme seeks to enhance food security, promote economic inclusion, and empower for vulnerable populations through sustainable agriculture.

The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs Edesili Anani, stated that the initiative is part of a broader national agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector, promote food security, and empower citizens.

She noted that the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has made significant contributions to the agricultural sector, putting in place mechanisms to make Edo State an agricultural hub for food production and sufficiency.

The Agricultural programme had four segments, women in agriculture, youth in agriculture, young farmers club and every home a garden. The Coordinator announced that the best woman with the best garden will win N1 million, the second prize will be N500,000, and the third will win N300,000.

The Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon Ugbodu Golden, stated that Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration is committed to sustaining agriculture in the State, which will lead to economic growth. The government has procured tractors, developed over 200 hectares of land, and provided fertilizers for farmers.

The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Edo State chapter, Alhaji Bako Ebiredelu Dogwo, commended the Governor for embracing agriculture, noting that the previous administration neglected the sector.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Osayande Sunday, also commended the Governor for making farming attractive to the Edo people.

The programme included lectures by experts in various aspects of agriculture, and the Coordinator decorated 31 students belonging to the Young Farmers Club with farming tools to kick-start a farming competition in schools across Edo State.