More than 500 vulnerable market women in Cross River State have received ₦50,000 cash grants and other empowerment items from the Women Mobilisation Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as part of efforts to support small businesses and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The empowerment programme was led by the Co-Chairman of the APC Women Mobilisation Directorate, Dr. Betta Edu, during visits to the popular Watt Market, the General Hospital area and the University of Calabar Students’ Union Government over the weekend.
Speaking at the event, Edu said the initiative was carried out on behalf of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is leading the party’s nationwide women’s mobilisation campaign.
She said the delegation came with different empowerment packages, including deep freezers, blenders, toasters and cash support for petty traders and market women.
According to her, “Some of them are selling trays that have just ₦5,000 worth of goods, while others have about ₦10,000 worth. We are giving them ₦50,000 so they can expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and take better care of their children.”
Edu also highlighted some of the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes, including student support and free maternal healthcare, saying they were designed to improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
She urged Cross River residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and also vote for Governor Bassey Otu and all APC candidates during the elections.
“We are campaigning that Cross River should come out en masse and vote for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu and all APC candidates. We want every woman to go to the polling booth smiling,” she said.
Edu disclosed that about 500 market women benefited from the Calabar programme and announced plans to extend the empowerment initiative to Abi Local Government Area in November and December before moving to the northern part of the state in January.
She added that similar empowerment programmes would be carried out across the country as part of the APC Women’s Mobilisation Directorate’s nationwide grassroots campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
