(DDM) – A total of 1,000 women traders in Delta State have received ₦50,000 grants each to boost their businesses under a nationwide empowerment scheme.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the initiative was jointly executed by the Renewed Hope Initiative, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and the Delta State Government.
The ceremony in Asaba featured symbolic cheque presentations by Delta First Lady Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori and Ezinne Onyeme, representing the grassroots beneficiaries.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said the grants were designed to recapitalize small businesses, describing women as the backbone of households and local economies.
She stressed that empowered women translate to stronger families, more resilient communities, and a vibrant economy capable of driving national growth.
According to her, the Renewed Hope Initiative was conceived to ensure women are not left behind in economic recovery efforts.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation announced that it had donated ₦1 billion for the programme across Nigeria.
The fund will directly benefit 18,500 women traders nationwide, marking one of the largest grassroots economic interventions in recent years.
Delta First Lady Tobore Oborevwori explained that the state ensured inclusivity in its selection process.
She said beneficiaries were drawn across religious, professional, and ethnic groups to reflect fairness and equity.
Oborevwori urged the women to utilize the funds wisely, stressing that misuse of grants would defeat the empowerment goals.
She appealed to the traders to continue supporting government initiatives designed to uplift women and promote entrepreneurship.
Observers say the initiative aligns with the Delta State Government’s broader agenda to strengthen grassroots businesses and reduce poverty.
Economists argue that small-scale traders, particularly market women, are often the most vulnerable to inflation, rising costs, and lack of access to credit.
They note that targeted grants help women stabilize their trading capital and avoid falling into cycles of debt.
In Delta, market women dominate the informal economy, driving food supply, retail distribution, and daily commerce.
Experts believe that supporting them with capital directly impacts household income, children’s education, and community development.
Stakeholders praised the collaboration between the state government, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and the Renewed Hope Initiative.
They emphasized that public-private partnerships remain critical in tackling grassroots poverty and ensuring long-term sustainability of empowerment schemes.
Across Nigeria, the programme has been welcomed as a practical intervention at a time of economic hardship and rising cost of living.
Analysts say the initiative reflects a shift from large-scale contracts to direct investment in women, who have proven to reinvest in families and communities.
For the traders in Delta, the ₦50,000 grants represent more than financial aid.
They symbolize recognition of their role in sustaining local economies and their contribution to Nigeria’s broader development goals.
Post Views: 113
