Abuja: First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's 'Every Home a Garden' project is achieving significant success in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as reported by the FCT Coordinator, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi. Benjamins-Laniyi, who also serves as the Mandate Secretary for the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, made this announcement during the conclusion of the 2024 cohort of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Every Home a Garden competition in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organized to honor FCT women for participating in the competition, which was initiated by the First Lady and has been described as a success. The initiative, under the RHI Agricultural Support Programme, has positively impacted the lives of rural women across the FCT by promoting self-reliance, improving nutrition, and providing economic empowerment through backyard gardens.
Benjamins-Laniyi explained that the competition began in July 2023 to encourage women across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to engage in home gardening using both traditional and modern methods. The initiative aims to enhance food supply, promote self-sufficiency, and improve well-being, while also ensuring food security and fostering a culture of sharing and communal living.
The project seeks to redirect the focus of Nigerians towards farming by using available spaces in their homes, thereby revitalizing Nigeria's agricultural potential. Women are leading these efforts, and to facilitate participation, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat formed a committee to reach out to women in the territory and guide them through the process.
A total of 416 video entries were submitted, with the gardens receiving physical inspections by the committee and a panel of jurists. The assessment criteria included garden location, variety of vegetables, use of space, and alternative gardening methods, among others.
Hajiya Hauwa Aminu was declared the winner in the FCT and placed among the top three nationwide. Mrs. Victoria Obiolor and Mrs. Pamela Ashiedu secured second and third places, respectively. Benjamins-Laniyi praised the participants for their contributions and assured them of continued support through the women agro network in the FCT.
The conclusion of the 2024 competition also marked the beginning of preparations for the 2025 edition. Benjamins-Laniyi expressed optimism for the future and encouraged the women to be ready for further opportunities that would enhance their agricultural skills and livelihoods.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to grassroots agricultural empowerment. He acknowledged the First Lady's initiative as complementing President Bola Tinubu's efforts to reposition the agricultural sector.