Renewed Hope Initiative Empower’s 500 Edo Women as Okpebholo Vows Inclusive Governance.

No fewer than 500 vulnerable women in Edo State have received economic empowerment tools under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Financial Inclusivity, an effort championed by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The initiative, held on Saturday in Benin City, saw beneficiaries drawn from Edo’s three senatorial districts equipped with deep freezers, gas cookers with ovens, industrial grinding machines, and generators to support their small scale enterprises.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, addressing the gathering through her representatives, reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to prioritise women’s empowerment as a key strategy in addressing poverty and unemployment nationwide.

“The Renewed Hope Initiative identifies women as nation builders whose economic strength directly improves families and communities. This distribution will help create new business opportunities and uplift lives,” she noted.

She disclosed that the exercise was simultaneously ongoing in other South-South states Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta with Rivers State’s event rescheduled for May 2, 2025.

Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Godswill Inegbe, hailed the empowerment programme as timely and in line with his administration’s vision of inclusive development.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to women’s economic independence, which he said would remain central to policy implementation throughout his tenure.

“By investing in the financial empowerment of women, we are investing in the future of families, communities, and the economy of Edo State. No woman will be left behind in our collective journey towards growth and stability,” Okpebholo assured.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, represented by Nura Ali Rano, stated that the project was designed to align with Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 8, focusing on gender equality and decent work opportunities.

Among the recipients, Faith Mbah expressed gratitude to the First Lady and Governor Okpebholo, describing the items as life changing and pledging to put them to productive use.

The empowerment programme is part of a broader strategy by the federal government to enhance financial inclusion and socio-economic wellbeing for women nationwide, as Nigeria continues its pursuit of inclusive economic recovery.