By Damian Duruiheoma,The Nation

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No fewer than 500 female entrepreneurs in Enugu State have received small business recapitalisation grants under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Economic Empowerment Programme, implemented in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The flag-off event, which held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, marked the state’s rollout of a nationwide programme targeted at 18,500 women across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the ceremony, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by the wife of Enugu Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, said the scheme was designed to strengthen women entrepreneurs and traders who bear daily responsibilities of sustaining their families and communities.

She emphasised that the financial support was a grant, not a loan, describing it as “a seed of renewed hope to help women recapitalise their businesses and expand their capacity to support households and communities.”

Tinubu also lauded the Tony Elumelu Foundation for donating N1 billion to the programme, which has made the grants accessible to women in all states.

According to her, empowering women remains one of the most effective strategies for building stronger homes, healthier communities, and a more prosperous nation.

“When you empower a woman, you empower an entire society,” she said.

In her remarks, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who doubles as the RHI State Coordinator, urged beneficiaries to make prudent use of the grants to grow their businesses and improve their families’ livelihoods.

She praised Senator Tinubu for her vision and commitment to uplifting women across the country, describing her as “a leader with a heart for people and passion for women’s empowerment.”