Five hundred women in Abia State have joined 18,000 others across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme. Each beneficiary received N50,000.

During the flag-off ceremony in Umuahia, the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, who represented Senator Oluremi Tinubu, disclosed that the Tony Elumelu Foundation donated N1 billion to the programme to support 18,500 women nationwide in recapitalising their small businesses.

Mrs. Otti described the programme as a boost to women traders and small-scale business owners who work tirelessly to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.

She emphasised that the N50,000 grant is not a loan but a seed of renewed hope to strengthen existing businesses. She commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its generosity and Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for its efforts in economically, socially, and educationally empowering women across Nigeria.

Representative of the foundation, Mr. Ikechukwu Aria Uka, highlighted the foundation’s presence in 54 African countries with hundreds of alumni beneficiaries.

Mrs. Otti also expressed appreciation to her husband, Governor Alex Otti, for ensuring that RHI programmes are fully implemented in Abia State. She prayed that such acts of generosity would inspire others nationwide.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support and pledged to use the funds judiciously, while calling for the programme to be extended to more women across the country.