In a significant boost for female entrepreneurship in Ogun State, a total of one thousand women have received financial grants to strengthen their small-scale businesses. This empowerment drive is a collaborative effort between the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
Launch of the Women Economic Empowerment Programme
The official launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative/Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme took place on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The event was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta. Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was represented at the ceremony by the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun.
Senator Tinubu, speaking through her representative, clarified the core objective of the programme. She stated that it was specifically designed to support the entrepreneurial spirit of women across all twenty local government areas of Ogun State. Each beneficiary received a direct grant of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000).
Mitigating Economic Hardship and Empowering Communities
The First Lady emphasized that these funds are intended to provide a much-needed cushion against current economic challenges. The grants will help the women expand their business operations, enabling them to better provide for their families and improve their overall living standards.
"It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation," Senator Tinubu remarked. She extended her gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its substantial contribution of one billion naira to the RHI. This national donation is set to directly support 18,500 women entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
Acknowledgment and Preceding Support for Senior Citizens
Earlier during the event, the Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Honourable Adijat Adeleye, expressed her appreciation. She thanked the First Lady of Nigeria, the First Lady of Ogun State, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for making the empowerment grants a reality for the state's women.
This women-focused programme follows another recent philanthropic act by the First Lady through the RHI. Just before this event, about 250 elderly citizens in Ogun State received N200,000 each. That initiative was aimed at ensuring the senior citizens could celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays in comfort and joy.
The combined efforts highlight a targeted approach to economic support, addressing the needs of both vulnerable elderly citizens and ambitious women business owners in Ogun State.
