For the woman who wake up before sunrise, arranges her little goods, waits patiently for customers and struggles every day to keep her small business of #10,000 alive, ₦50,000 can mean much more than a life line.
It can mean fresh stock, a bigger business, renewed hope and another opportunity to provide for her family and train her children in school.
That was the message behind the market Women empowerment outreach in Calabar, where Dr Betta Edu engaged over 5000 market women mobilized from different markets around calabar on the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Otu of the APC. She also empowered 500 petty traders and small-scale market women on behalf of the First Lady of Nigeria; Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The women received ₦50,000 each for petty trading support to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The Co-Director of the Women Mobilisation Directorate, APC Presidential Campaign Council, also brought excitement to the market with gift items and consolation prizes, including deep freezers, blenders and toasters, luxury dresses, financial grant awards which the women won through a lively dance competition.
Beyond the cash support, it was a moment of connection, laughter and appreciation.
The women danced, celebrated and offered prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with one of them enthusiastically declaring: “Mr President, thank you. God bless you Cross River will vote for you and sweet Prince!”
Dr Betta Edu encouraged the women to remain active in their communities, engaging neighbours, traders and households through grassroots sensitisation. “You must hand hold every woman you have spoken to and ensure the vote for APC from top to bottom in next election please”
But at the heart of the outreach was a simple message: small businesses matter, the women who sustain them matter, and even a modest financial intervention can make a meaningful difference in someone’s daily struggle.
For these 500 women, the support represents an opportunity to return to their stalls with renewed hope and stronger purchasing power.