The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday commended all women who participated in the just-concluded #Every Home a Garden Competition, saying they are not just winners in their own right but contributors to ensuring food security in Nigeria.

She spoke at the unveiling of the competition winner, which started in October 2023.

The First Lady, who noted women’s immense contributions to nation-building, added that they have a vital role to play in the agricultural sector and the food revolution drive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

She said, “I am glad to see that this competition has created a positive awareness in home gardening for women across the country. I commend our first-time women farmers for their passion and dedication to ensuring food security for their families and neighbours. I say well done.”

Senator Tinubu noted that the passion shown by the women made it difficult to choose a winner from the 20 entries submitted from 19 states and the FCT to the office of the RHI.

In reviewing the entries, members of the RHI Governing Board sat down to thoroughly select the best three entries,” she said.

Delegations headed by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the wife of the Deputy Senate President, and the wife of the Chief of Staff to the President travelled to Borno, FCT, and Sokoto to inspect the gardens before selecting the overall winner, as we have just seen in the documentary. We were all very impressed with the quality of entries, making it hard to choose a winner. And I know you are all waiting to know who the winner is.

“Finally, after careful deliberations, with gratitude to God, I am happy to announce that the winner of the Renewed Hope Initiative #Every Home a Garden Competition is Mrs. Veronica Kidafa Mabaya from Borno State. Congratulations to our winner.”

Earlier, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, said that going forward, the ministry would be adopting the competition under its National Agricultural Urban Program as an annual event.

Also, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND), through its Executive Secretary/CEO Mohammed Ibrahim, announced its support for women farmers with training opportunities and additional cash rewards for the winner and finalists.

Media aide to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, explained that the winner, Veronica Kidafa Mabaya, a 62-year-old retiree who resides in Borno State, went home with N20m from the RHI, N5m from NADFUND, and N1m from the Borno State Government.

The other 19 finalists received N1m each from the RHI, N1m each from their state governments, and N500,000 each from NADFUND.