First Lady and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Oluremi Tinubu, has urged farmers in Rivers State to maximise the benefits of the agricultural empowerment support they received to contribute significantly to building a food-secure Nigeria.
Mrs Tinubu’s message was delivered by the wife of the state governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, during the distribution of agricultural support materials to 800 pre-selected farmers at the Government House Field in Port Harcourt.
The empowerment event was a collaborative effort involving the Renewed Hope Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Rivers State Government, and the Young Farmers’ Club of Nigeria.
Reading the First Lady’s address, Mrs Fubara encouraged the beneficiaries to take ownership of their farms and contribute to national food output.
“Grow these seedlings, nurture these livestock, and turn them into good yields,” she stated, adding that this effort would reawaken the entrepreneurial spirit of the people.
Mrs Fubara described the initiative as a practical step to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural potential, drawing parallels with historical government programs like “Operation Feed the Nation” and the “Green Revolution.”
She stressed that the initiative, which includes support for farmers, is an “investment that will lead to food surplus and help combat scarcity.”
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She further noted that the state government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, supplemented the RHI’s efforts by providing additional support for 400 farmers—100 youths and 300 older farmers—bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 800.
The state deputy governor, Ngozi Odu, commended the program for promoting inclusivity and bridging socio-economic gaps, stating it embodies the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable development.
The Head of Civil Service, Inyingi Brown, who described the program as timely and impactful, appealed to the first set of beneficiaries to become catalysts for sustaining the initiative and demonstrating its success to ensure its replication.
Similarly, the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, hailed the First Lady’s vision as a crucial step toward job creation, food security, and inclusive economic growth.
The state coordinator of RHI, Tonye Oniyide, confirmed that RHI pre-selected 400 farmers from across the state’s three senatorial districts, including members of the Female Farmers’ Association, the Young Farmers’ Club, and non-indigenes.
The beneficiaries received items such as farm implements, seedlings, fingerlings, livestock, and starter packs aimed at boosting production and encouraging youth involvement in agriculture.
