Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday harvested fresh vegetables from her garden at the State House in Abuja, using the occasion to encourage Nigerians to embrace home gardening as a practical way of improving household food security and reducing the rising cost of living.
Speaking after harvesting the vegetables, the First Lady said growing food at home, no matter how small the available space, could help families supplement their food supply, promote healthier eating habits and cut household feeding expenses. She urged Nigerians to make productive use of open spaces around their homes by cultivating vegetables and other crops for family consumption, describing home gardening as a simple but effective way to improve food availability.
According to her, access to fresh vegetables through backyard gardens can significantly enhance household nutrition while reducing dependence on market purchases. “Every family can contribute to food production in one way or another,” she said, stressing that ensuring food security should not be left to governments alone but should begin at the household level.
The First Lady’s message comes at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices and inflation, making the cost of basic food items increasingly difficult for many families to afford. She noted that home-grown vegetables could help cushion the impact of the high cost of food while encouraging healthier lifestyles.
Oluremi Tinubu also highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to support small businesses and vulnerable groups through grants and empowerment programmes. She said many beneficiaries had received financial support to start small-scale businesses capable of generating income without requiring huge capital.
“To start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or making kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave them a grant. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. I also gave to several others,” she said.
The First Lady explained that the grants were designed to help beneficiaries become self-reliant rather than burden them with loan repayments. She urged recipients to make good use of the support by investing in viable businesses that would improve their livelihoods and contribute to the local economy.
Since assuming office, Senator Tinubu has consistently promoted programmes focused on women’s empowerment, youth development, education, health and agriculture through her Renewed Hope Initiative. The programme has provided grants, agricultural support, educational assistance and other interventions aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians. She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives that encourage food production, economic empowerment and self-sufficiency, urging citizens to see agriculture not only as a source of income but also as a means of ensuring food is readily available for every household.
