The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in collaboration with the Benue State Government through the Office of the First Lady, has empowered 1,500 women in Vandeikya Local Government Area with ₦75 million in cash grants to support their businesses.

The beneficiaries received ₦50,000 each under the initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who provided for 1,000 women, while Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, added another 500 beneficiaries to expand the reach of the intervention.

The programme, held at the Vandeikya Township Stadium on Monday, October 26, 2026, was coordinated by the State Coordinator of RHI and Coordinator, Office of the Benue State First Lady, Hon. Scholastica Terngu Ben-Sor.

The intervention followed a pledge made by Senator Tinubu earlier in the year during her visit to Ihugh, Vandeikya LGA, for the commissioning of a community ICT centre.

The programme was attended by the Benue State APC Women Leader, Hon. Mrs. Helen Agaigbe; Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Mrs. Grace Adagba; Commissioner for Special Duties and Other Related Matters, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Onma Ogenyi; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Township Beautification, Hon. Mrs. Member Dekera; and Deputy Chairman of Vandeikya LGA, Hon. Mrs. Janet Or-Kuna.

Also present were the wife of the Vandeikya Local Government Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Philomena Guda; Gubernatorial Liaison Officer for Vandeikya, Joseph Yawe; wives of local government chairmen, government appointees and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Ben-Sor expressed delight at the large turnout of women and youths, describing the initiative as an opportunity to support women in growing their businesses and improving their livelihoods.

She recalled that Senator Tinubu had earlier visited Vandeikya to commission the ICT centre and announced financial support for women in the area. According to Ben-Sor, the First Lady provided ₦50 million for Vandeikya LGA, alongside ₦50 million for each of 22 other local government areas, as part of her empowerment efforts.

She explained that Governor Alia complemented the intervention by providing grants for an additional 500 women, bringing the number of beneficiaries in Vandeikya to 1,500. Hon. Ben-Sor also highlighted the state government's interventions in infrastructure, fiscal reforms, investment and other sectors, noting that women, girls and youths had benefited from various government programmes.

She urged the people to sustain their support for the administrations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alia. In her remarks, the SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Grace Adagba, commended the initiative, describing it as a welcome development that would help women strengthen their businesses.

Dr. Adagba said the large turnout reflected the women's appreciation of the intervention, adding that many beneficiaries were already engaged in business and could therefore apply the grants directly to their enterprises. The APC Women Leader, Hon. Helen Agaigbe, also appreciated Senator Tinubu for extending the empowerment programme to women in Vandeikya. 

Hon. Agaigbe commended Ben-Sor for her role in coordinating the initiative and ensuring that the First Lady's promise to support women in the local government was fulfilled. She equally called on the people to support the administrations of President Tinubu and Governor Alia.

The wife of the Vandeikya Local Government Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Philomena Guda, expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the initiative and commended Ben-Sor for her continued support for women in the area.

Guda encouraged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the grants to improve their businesses and livelihoods. Earlier in her welcome address, the Deputy Chairman of Vandeikya LGA, Hon. Mrs. Janet Or-Kuna, recalled that Senator Tinubu announced the empowerment programme during her earlier visit to the area.

She expressed appreciation that the promise had been fulfilled through the Office of the Benue State First Lady and commended Ben-Sor for helping to deliver the intervention to the beneficiaries.

The Gubernatorial Liaison Officer for Vandeikya, Joseph Yawe, also thanked the First Lady for fulfilling her promise and urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to expand their businesses and improve their economic circumstances.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the financial assistance, pledging to invest the grants in their businesses. One of them, Precious Dooshima Iqbanongu, a petty trader and coordinator of Divine Consensus Mothers in Township Ward, confirmed receiving an alert of ₦50,000. 

She said the grant would enable her to increase her business capital and expand her trading activities, assuring that she would not divert the money to unproductive purposes.

Another beneficiary, Hunaga Nguavese Scholastica, also confirmed receiving the grant, saying she intended to add it to the capital for her existing buying-and-selling business. She prayed for God's continued protection and guidance for Senator Tinubu and Ben-Sor, appreciating them for the support extended to women in the area.

Kehe Hon

Information Officer

Government House Makurdi