First Lady urges Rivers farmers to lay foundation for food-secured Nigeria

Nigeria’s First Lady and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on farmers in Rivers State to take full ownership of their agricultural ventures.

Senator Tinubu noted that their success was vital to building a food-secure nation.

The First Lady made the call through the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, during the official flag-off and distribution of agricultural support items to 800 pre-selected farmers at the Government House Field in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The empowerment programme, organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Rivers State Government, and the Young Farmers’ Club of Nigeria, is part of ongoing efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural sector and reduce food insecurity.

Delivering Senator Tinubu’s address, Lady Valerie Fubara urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity by cultivating their farmlands, raising livestock, and producing high-yield harvests that would contribute meaningfully to national food production.

“Grow these seedlings, nurture these livestock, and turn them into good yields.

“As you do that, you will also reawaken the entrepreneurial spirit that we are known for, ” she said.

Lady Fubara described the programme as a “deliberate and practical step” towards agricultural revival, drawing inspiration from landmark initiatives such as Operation Feed the Nation and the Green Revolution of the past.

She noted that RHI reflected a sincere commitment by the First Lady and the Federal Government to empower citizens and ensure lasting food security.

“This support programme is not just assistance. It is an investment that will lead to food surplus and help combat scarcity, ” she said.

She disclosed that the State government was also reinforcing the initiative by supporting an additional 400 farmers, comprising 100 young farmers and 300 older ones, in addition to the 400 already selected by RHI—bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 800.

“The First Lady of Nigeria is trusting you to make the best use of this opportunity and the Rivers State government believes in your ability—do not let us down, ” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, praised the initiative for promoting social inclusion and bridging economic divides.

She described the programme as one aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.

“Beyond the immediate benefits, this programme lays the foundation for a more prosperous and self-reliant Rivers State,” she noted.

In her remarks, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, described the programme as “timely and impactful,” urging beneficiaries to set an example for future participants and called for the inclusion of civil servants in subsequent phases.

“You are the first set of beneficiaries—please, show example so that the programme will be replicated. Let it not die in your hands,” she said.

Also lending his voice, the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Victor Kii, lauded the vision behind RHI and its alignment with the government’s goals of achieving food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.

He praised Lady Valerie Fubara’s proactive role in ensuring the smooth rollout of the initiative in Rivers State.

“This programme uplifts women, creates jobs, and secures a sustainable economic future,” he said.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Mrs. Tonye Oniyide, disclosed that the 400 RHI beneficiaries were drawn from across the three senatorial districts of the state, including members of the Female Farmers’ Association, the Young Farmers’ Club, and non-indigenes with proven interest in agriculture.

Beneficiaries received a variety of agricultural starter packs, including farm implements, seedlings, fingerlings, livestock, and input kits designed to encourage youth participation and drive rural economic development.

The event marked another chapter in the First Lady’s ongoing campaign to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce food scarcity, and empower grassroots communities under the Renewed Hope Initiative.