The First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, has flagged off the Women Economic Empowerment Programme under the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Speaking at the event held at the JB Secretariat in Gusau on Tuesday, Hajiya Huriyya said 500 women carefully selected across Zamfara will each receive ₦50,000 to boost their businesses. She added that another 18,500 women nationwide will benefit from the same programme.
“These grants are not loans or debts to be repaid. They are gifts an investment in the resilience, hard work and unbreakable spirit of the Nigerian woman,” she explained.
The First Lady expressed appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership and support for women, and to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its ₦1 billion investment in Nigerian women. She also commended Governor Dauda Lawal for his continuous support to women in the state.
She disclosed that in addition to the cash support, each beneficiary would receive a bag of rice and transport allowance courtesy of the governor.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to “Smarts News” expressed gratitude to the First Lady, pledging to use the money strictly for business purposes.
