The wife of Nigeria’s President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged all beneficiaries of the agricultural empowerment Programme under the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’ in Ekiti State to seize the opportunity, apply the knowledge gained, and contribute meaningfully to the agricultural transformation of the country.
Senator Tinubu, who is the chairperson of the initiative, stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, at the launch of the project and empowerment of farmers to ensure adequate food security.
The president’s wife, who was represented by the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, distributed various agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries and advised them to make the best use of them.
The inputs distributed include fertilizer, seedlings, sprayer, wheelbarrow, seedlings, insecticides, Cutlass, Hoes, watering cans, feed mills, juvenile catfish, day-old chicks, and cash gifts, among others.
She noted that the empowerment programme for women, youths, and students, under the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’, aligns with the collective vision for food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable development.
“Agriculture, as we know, is a vital pillar of our national economy that empowers our people, especially women and youths. These targeted support programs will strengthen food production, create jobs, and uplift families”. She added
In his remark at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ebeneezer Boluwade, noted that agricultural practice needed the support of the government to ensure food surplus but passionately appealed to all the beneficiaries not to sell the seeds and other farm incentives given to them for food production.
In their goodwill messages, the state Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, Secretary to State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr Folake Olomojobi, Agric Women Leader, Mrs Omolola Periao and other stakeholders at the event, advocated the need for beneficiaries to use the farm incentives for the purpose which they were meant for to promote food surplus.
Before the distribution, A Guest Lecturer, Mrs Olayemi Okunola, sensitized the beneficiaries on precautions to be taken so that the seedlings and other things provided to them would not be wasted in the long run.
The beneficiaries who were carefully drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state consist of the Young Farmers Association of Nigeria, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Women Farmers Associations, and School Age Famers Club, among others.
