Remi Tinubu launches ₦100,000 grant for 2,000 women in Borno

Senator Oluremi Tinubu has launched a ₦100,000 grant programme for 2,000 vulnerable women in Borno State, as part of a broader ₦200 million empowerment initiative aimed at improving household income and supporting small-scale enterprise across the state.

The programme was unveiled on Monday in Maiduguri, where each selected beneficiary will receive ₦100,000 alongside a sewing machine to strengthen their means of livelihood. The intervention cuts across all 27 local government areas, with distribution structured to reflect population spread and vulnerability levels.

A breakdown of the beneficiaries shows that 400 women were selected from Maiduguri metropolis, 200 from Jere LGA, and 100 from Biu LGA, while the remaining 24 LGAs will each have 50 beneficiaries. The initiative is positioned to drive economic participation among women, particularly those at the lower end of the income ladder.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu commended the administration of Babagana Umara Zulum for prioritising social welfare and inclusive development, noting that the empowerment programme aligns with ongoing national efforts to strengthen community resilience.

“I would like to seize this opportunity to specially commend the Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum CON, for his remarkable gesture of empowering 2,000 women, many of whom are potential beneficiaries of the National Community Food Bank Project we are launching today,” she said.

The launch coincided with the commissioning of key infrastructure projects executed by the state government, including a newly constructed nursing quarters located adjacent to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri. The facility consists of eight blocks of six flats, fully furnished and equipped with air-conditioning systems to improve living conditions for healthcare personnel and address accommodation gaps within the sector.

In the education sector, two mega primary schools — Aliyakeri and Abbaganaram — were also commissioned. Each school features 48 classrooms and is equipped with an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, e-learning systems, modern sports facilities, and solar-powered electricity to support uninterrupted learning for thousands of pupils.

Tinubu described the projects as reflective of a people-centred governance approach, noting their potential to strengthen human resources for health and improve access to quality education across the state.

“You have done very well, I am really privileged and honoured to be here at the commissioning today. What we have seen so far in Borno is quite encouraging,” she said.

Zulum’s administration has completed 104 mega schools, with additional projects ongoing across the state. As part of the event, eight outstanding teachers, head teachers, principals, TVET coordinators, and staff of the Borno State Ministry of Education were also presented with utility vehicles in recognition of their service.

In a related development, the governor awarded a house to a ministry watchman, Baba Modu Fandi, for his dedication, while Tinubu provided an additional ₦2 million support.