First Lady’s RHI, Rivers Government Empower 1,000 Women with N50,000 Grants

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and supported by the Rivers State Government, has distributed N50,000 cash grants to 1,000 women in Rivers State.

Under the collaboration, the RHI and TEF provided N50,000 each to 500 women, while the state government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, extended the same support to another 500 beneficiaries.

Speaking at the Women Economic Empowerment Programme held on Thursday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Senator Tinubu—represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara—said the initiative aims to promote women’s entrepreneurship and strengthen small-scale enterprises.

She praised the resilience of Nigerian women, noting their dedication to supporting their families, educating their children, and contributing to national development.

“This is not a loan; it is a grant—a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalize your businesses,” Mrs. Tinubu said. “When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed a nation.”

The First Lady expressed gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its N1 billion contribution to support 18,500 women nationwide through the Renewed Hope Initiative, with 500 women from each state and the FCT benefiting from the N50,000 grant.

She also thanked Governor Fubara and his wife for their collaboration and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic spirit of Tony Elumelu.

In her remarks, Lady Valerie Fubara described the empowerment as a major step toward boosting women’s economic resilience and helping them tackle daily challenges. She highlighted RHI’s ongoing interventions in agriculture, education, and economic empowerment across the country.

“Today, 500 women are receiving N50,000 each through the RHI–TEF partnership, while another 500 are being supported by the Rivers State Government—making a total of 1,000 beneficiaries,” she said.

Lady Fubara commended the initiative’s positive impact in the state, calling it both “gratifying and transformative.” She encouraged other organizations and corporate bodies to partner with the RHI in advancing women’s empowerment.

She further relayed Governor Fubara’s message of congratulations to the beneficiaries, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to targeted, impactful empowerment initiatives.

We urge all recipients to make judicious use of this grant to invest in productive ventures that will enhance their livelihoods, strengthen families, and contribute to the state’s economy,” she added.

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