No fewer than 1,000 women across Rivers State have received small business recapitalisation grants under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Economic Empowerment Programme, aimed at boosting women-owned enterprises and improving family livelihoods.
The empowerment scheme, implemented in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and supported by the Rivers State Government, was launched on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt.
The RHI Women Economic Empowerment Programme is part of a nationwide scheme targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the flag-off, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu—represented by Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, wife of the Rivers State Governor—said each beneficiary would receive N50,000 as a non-repayable grant to strengthen and expand their businesses.
“This grant is not a loan. When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation,” she said, while expressing appreciation to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its N1 billion donation to support the programme nationwide.
Lady Valerie Fubara praised Senator Tinubu’s commitment to uplifting women and highlighted the Rivers State Government’s ongoing efforts to support families through agricultural, economic, and educational initiatives.
She noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had increased the number of beneficiaries in the state from 500 to 1,000 as part of his administration’s drive for inclusive economic growth.
“His Excellency believes empowerment must be value-targeted. I urge all recipients to invest wisely to improve their families’ welfare,” she said.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, commended both Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara for complementing the state government’s development agenda, urging beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously.
Also speaking, retired Justice Mary Odili applauded the initiative for its far-reaching impact, describing the beneficiaries’ excitement as evidence of its success.
In her remarks, Rivers State RHI Coordinator, Hon. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, said beneficiaries were carefully selected across all 23 local government areas through a transparent process, encouraging them to use the grant to enhance their economic well-being.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries by Lady Valerie Fubara and a free medical outreach offering health checks and treatments to participants.
