The disbursement of First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) agricultural grants has begun in the FCT.
D’Gallery gathered that the FCT’s Women Affairs Secretariat is offering a N500,000.00 grant to each of the 20 beneficiaries in the FCT. The grant is intended to empower FCT women in agriculture.
ThevMandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi said that the disbursement marked a major milestone in the process of supporting FCT women to grow their investment in Agriculture.
“All around the world, when it comes to funding and grants, the most critical element is return of the investment, by way of demonstrable proof for the investment. That is what the FCT First Lady’s RHI Agricultural Empowerment is going to be doing. It’s going to be a story told from the grant to the off-taking and the final time of harvest.”
Benjamins–Laniyi explained that beneficiaries would be closely monitored and rewarded during harvest time. She announced a five million naira reward to the winner of best farm yield during harvest, N1.5 million to the winner of second best farm yield, while the third best farmer would go home with N1 million.
According to her, the reward system was aimed at encouraging the beneficiaries to rescale their investments and take them to a macro level.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of Women Affair Secretariat, Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawele, advised the beneficiaries to exhibit prudence in investing in the grant, so that the desired result of business expansion would be achieved.
He warned against any form of distractions that may prevent the beneficiaries from upscaling their businesses through the grant.
“I congratulate you on this achievement and urge you to use this grant to invest in your farming businesses, transform your lives and the lives of those around you,” Kolawole said.
Beneficiaries of the grant commended the initiative for women, saying it is a sure way of ensuring inclusive governance in Nigeria.
“I am very happy to be chosen among the 20 beneficiaries. This grant would go a long way in upgrading my business, and I’ll also extend support to those that are learning under me,” a sugar cane farmer beneficiary, Rakiya Muhammed said.
The occasion was attended by representatives of development partners, including World Bank, Access Bank, and the Abuja Accelerator Programme, among others.
