The Minister of Women Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has empowered over 1000 women and youths across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State with livelihood support to alleviate their sufferings.

Speaking during the event tagged ” Renewed Hope Women and Youth Empowerment and Health Outreach” in Keffi Local Government Area on Friday,  the Minister said the programme will continue to impact lives across the country.

She said the programme which is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, aims at empowering women and youths economically to improve their well-being.

The Minister mentioned the items distributed to beneficiaries to include: sewing machines, grinding machines,cooking gas cylinders, water pumping machines for irrigation farming, wrappers and cash grants for nano businesses, among others.

She lauded achievements of the programme in just one year, emphasising that the President’s renewed agenda prioritises women and children, noting that the programme has made significant progress in policy reforms, empowerment initiatives, and institutional strengthening.

“Our initiatives span various areas, including energy, menstrual hygiene, medical intervention, clean cooking gas, household support, and women’s economic empowerment.

” The key takeaway is that, these resources are available, and we are scaling up our efforts. Mr President prioritises women’s economic empowerment, placing women, children, and families at the forefront of national development.

“We have numerous programmes for girls, from policy to implementation including the Costed Action Plan on Ending Child Marriage, and Mr President has also launched the Costed Action Plan on ending violence against all children. These programmes aim to protect the rights of women and girls and promote their well-being,” she said.

The  Minister urged women in Nasarawa State to remain committed and take advantage of the programme’s opportunities.

In his remarks , the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, expressed happiness and appreciation for the Minister’s efforts to give back to the community.

“Let me say that Imaan is someone I know that is being loved by her people. And she also loves her people. She has demonstrated this in many capacities. She always like to give back. And that is why she is being loved,” he said.

Goronyo called on the community to rally round and support the President, assuring them that more dividends of democracy will come their way.

“By the special grace of God, from 2027, the President, Mr. Tinubu when he comes again to office, he is going to complete a number of programmes that have been started, and he is going to consolidate the gains that we have achieved so far,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Dr Aliyu Bello,  commended the Minister for her dedication to alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians, particularly women and youths, following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The APC Chairman noted that the Minister’s efforts were in line with the President’s renewed hope agenda which is aimed at bringing relief to Nigerians.

Dr Bello also praised the government for its efforts in stabilising the economy, noting that prices of foodstuff were gradually reducing.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to consider elevating the Minister to a higher and more inclusive ministry.

“For those who are calling for the removal of the minister, I want to let them know that we are calling on President Bola Tinubu to even elevate her the more to a higher and more inclusive ministry not only for the one exclusively for women,” he said.