Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the importance of empowering women to the well-being and prosperity of families and the nation at large.
Mrs Tinubu stated this in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during the flag-off of the presentation of empowerment items to 500 women in each of the five South-East states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Mrs Tinubu explained that at the end of the nationwide rollout of the initiative, 18,500 women across the country would have been empowered, with 500 beneficiaries selected from each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
She said; “Today, 500 preselected women beneficiaries in each state in the South-East will be provided with empowerment items such as deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines to support them in starting or growing their existing businesses.
“In addition to the 500 beneficiaries in Imo State, I am pleased to learn that the Governor of Imo State has provided 2,000 additional empowerment items, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 2,500. I commend His Excellency for this generous gesture and encourage other state governors to emulate this worthy example.”
The Renewed Hope Initiative, in collaboration with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was flagged off in Abuja for the North-Central Zone on February 21, 2025. This was followed by the distribution of empowerment items in the South-South Zone on April 25, 2026, and the South-West Zone on August 23, 2025.
“Similarly, empowering women in all spheres of life is central to achieving all the SDGs, especially SDG 5 on ‘achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls’ and SDG 8 on ‘decent work and economic growth,’ both of which are relevant to the purpose of this gathering.
“To the beneficiaries of this empowerment programme, I encourage you to use these resources judiciously to grow your businesses. Let these items serve as a foundation for creating a better life for yourselves and your families. I hope and pray that what you received today will prosper in your hands,” the First Lady said.
In addition, the First Lady donated N250 million to the 2,500 women beneficiaries of the empowerment items.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Oso Di Eme of Imo by the Council of Traditional Rulers of Imo State.
The title, meaning “one who supports her husband,” was conferred on her by the State Council of Traditional Rulers in recognition of her role in driving the policies and programmes of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for the benefit of Nigerians.
While urging Nigerians to trust the President Bola Tinubu administration, the First Lady reiterated that the nation was out of the “dark tunnel” and on a steady path to economic prosperity for all.
