Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 2,000 Benue petty traders, especially women, with a N100m grant.
Senator Tinubu announced the grant while inaugurating the community ICT centre in Ihugh, the hometown of Governor Hyacinth Alia, in the Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday.
The First Lady said knowledge of ICT serves as a significant tool for empowering communities, especially women, and will enable them to seize new opportunities and enhance youths’ educational prospects in the global economy.
According to her, “The Renewed Hope Initiative on our part will present a N50 million grant to 1,000 women in Vandeikya, and an additional N50 million to support 1,000 in Makurdi and environs to recapitalise their existing businesses, which is a total of N100 million to empower 2,000 women engaged in petty trading.”
On his part, Governor Hyacinth Alia extolled the First Lady’s commitment to women and youth in Benue.
The Governor also named the Community ICT after Mama Lucy Aluor.
He described Sen. Tinubu as a mother and friend of the state whose interventions, particularly through the Renewed Hope Initiative, have continued to support women, youths, children, and vulnerable groups.
Governor Alia said the centre will enhance digital literacy, empower youths with employable skills, bridge the digital divide, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and prepare the people to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The centre was an initiative of RHI in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Benue State Government.