The Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered over 300 individuals under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agricultural Support Programme in Ogun.
The Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, presented the empowerment items on behalf of the President’s Wife in Abeokuta on Monday.
Abiodun explained that the programme was not just agricultural interventions, but also strategic investments in the future of the people of the state.
She stated that it was designed to enhance food security, create employment opportunities and reduce poverty.
Abiodun added that the gesture was key to the Sustainable Development Goals. “SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality),” she said.
The wife of the governor said that agriculture remained one of the most effective tools for sustainable development.
“Here in Ogun State, under the leadership of my husband, Prince Dapo Abiodun, agriculture remains a top priority.
“With our proximity to major markets like Lagos and our expanding agro-processing capacity, we are well positioned to become a model for integrated agricultural growth.
“The Young Farmers Initiative will build the capacity of our youth to drive innovation in agriculture and agribusiness.
“The Women in Agriculture programme will support our women, who constitute over 60 per cent of the rural agricultural workforce.
“We will do this with financing, training, and access to markets,” she said.
Mrs Abiodun explained that the selection process was an equal representation of the women, men, youths and school children in agriculture.
Earlier, Ogun Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Bolu Owotomo, said the initiative was designed as a comprehensive social welfare programme to empower women, promote food security and enhance environmental resilience.
Owotomo noted that women were significant players in the agricultural value chain and that their contributions to the growth of the agricultural sector was crucial.
In his submission, representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Sina Oyeniyi said the initiative was in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda towards making lives more bearable for the citizens.
Also, Mrs Ibilola Kusimo, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ogun Chapter, urged beneficiaries of the programme to utilise farming equipment effectively.
She commended the president’s wife for the kind gesture and for supporting women and youths in agriculture.
The governor’s wife later handed over agricultural inputs and tools such as sprayers, herbicides, seedlings, chicks, wheelbarrow, watering cans among others to the women and the youths at the event.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke appreciated the President’s wife and the wife of the state governor for the empowerment.
