NIGERIA: Remi Tinubu Empowers 800 Rivers Farmers To Boost Food Security

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Nigeria’s First Lady and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 800 farmers in Rivers State with agricultural materials aimed at boosting food production and achieving national food security.

Represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, the First Lady distributed the items at the Government House, Port Harcourt, during a ceremony jointly organized by the Renewed Hope Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Rivers State Government, and the Young Farmers’ Club of Nigeria.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Senator Tinubu urged them to take full advantage of the support by cultivating their crops, nurturing livestock, and contributing to the nation’s food sustainability efforts.

She said : “Grow these seedlings, nurture these livestock, and turn them into good yields. As you do that, you will also reawaken the entrepreneurial spirit that we are known for.”

Lady Fubara described the initiative as a practical step to revive Nigeria’s agricultural strength and a reflection of the First Lady’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare. She said the Renewed Hope Initiative builds on the legacy of past agricultural programmes such as Operation Feed the Nation and the Green Revolution.

First lady added: “This support programme is not just assistance; it is an investment that will lead to food surplus and help combat scarcity.”

The Rivers State Government, according to Lady Fubara, is complementing the RHI empowerment with additional support for 400 local farmers, comprising 100 young and 300 older farmers, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 800.

She appealed to the recipients to make judicious use of the opportunity.

“The First Lady of Nigeria is trusting you to make the best use of this opportunity. The Rivers State Government believes in your ability; do not let us down,” she said.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, described the programme as a platform for promoting inclusivity and bridging socioeconomic gaps.

She noted: “This initiative embodies the Federal Government’s commitment to improving lives through sustainable and inclusive development, while commending Lady Fubara for her leadership in domesticating the RHI programmes in the state.

The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, also lauded the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. She urged the beneficiaries to become agents of continuity for the programme and called for future inclusion of civil servants among its participants.