Abuja: First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has initiated the distribution of farm inputs and tools to Kogi farmers through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agricultural Support Programme. This move aims to support women and youth farmers in boosting agriculture and enhancing livelihoods across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs Tinubu inaugurated the programme with four key support schemes: Women Agricultural Support Programme, Youth Agricultural Support Programme, Every Home a Garden Initiative, and the Young Farmers Club. Represented by Kogi Governor’s wife, Hajia Sefinat Ododo, Mrs Tinubu emphasized the initiative’s alignment with Nigeria’s agenda to modernize agriculture. Mrs Ododo expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her leadership in empowering vulnerable groups through agriculture, noting that this initiative would improve food output and stimulate economic development in Kogi.
Mrs Ododo highlighted the programme’s focus on women, youth, and students, providing them with agrochemicals, equipment, and financial support to enhance farming efforts. She underscored the effort’s contribution to food sufficiency and national agricultural sustainability. She also revealed plans to launch a digital portal to gather data on women farmers and students in tertiary institutions, reaffirming her commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusive development in the state.
State Commissioners for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojomah, and for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, praised the First Lady and Mrs Ododo for their efforts. Ojomah highlighted the state government’s recent distribution of assorted fertilizers to support wet season farming. Jones, represented by Mrs Barikisu Omolayo, described the programme as a vital link between education and agricultural progress, promoting innovation and responsibility among youth for future food security.
RHI Desk Officer in Kogi, Mr Abdulkabir Otaru, detailed specific support measures, including providing multipurpose agro-processing machines to 33 women, chicks and feed to 25 women poultry farmers, and farming kits to 36 youths. Additionally, 25 home gardeners will receive vegetable seeds and organic fertilizers, while 150 students from 15 secondary schools will benefit from inputs for maize and cassava production.
Two beneficiaries, Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele and a student, Rahimat Hassan, expressed their gratitude to the First Lady, committing to use the resources effectively for the betterment of their farming activities.
