By Abbas Nazil
Keystone Bank Nigeria Limited has partnered with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, to support the Renewed Hope Initiative – Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-ASP), an agricultural empowerment project spearheaded nationally by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The initiative is designed to boost local food production, encourage economic self-reliance, and improve livelihoods by providing agricultural inputs, financial assistance, and capacity-building support to women and youth across the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Keystone Bank described the collaboration as a key component of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and commitment to fostering national development.
The bank emphasized that the initiative aligns with its strategic focus on empowering underserved communities and supporting inclusive economic growth through targeted interventions.
Managing Director and CEO of Keystone Bank, Mr. Hassan Imam, hailed the partnership as timely and impactful.
He commended the First Ladies at both federal and state levels for creating platforms that harness the power of public-private collaboration to drive meaningful change.
According to him, “This timely and strategic collaboration aligns with our mission as a socially responsible institution.
We commend the First Ladies of the Federation and Lagos State for championing this initiative and creating a platform where public-private synergy can truly serve the people.”
Mrs. Helen Maiyegun, Directorate Head for Lagos and West at Keystone Bank, reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting the Renewed Hope Agricultural Support Programme.
She noted that the bank is honoured to contribute to the initiative, as it directly resonates with its goal of empowering women and youth and enabling them to lead agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
Keystone Bank’s support for the programme is expected to span financial inclusion initiatives, support for agricultural development, and specialized empowerment training.
Through this partnership, the bank aims to help bridge gaps in access to resources, improve food security, and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
The Renewed Hope Initiative – Agricultural Support Programme has been gaining traction nationwide as a flagship effort to address economic challenges through sustainable agriculture and human capital development.
The recent event in Lagos brought together key stakeholders, including government officials and financial institutions, to consolidate efforts toward national agricultural revitalization.
Present at the event were top Keystone Bank officials including Ayoyinka Thompson, Business Team Lead, Eko Zone; and Mrs. Maiyegun, alongside Her Excellency, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and Her Excellency, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State.
Together, they reinforced the message that multi-sector collaboration is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential and improving livelihoods, particularly for women and young people.