First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Empowers 2,500 South-East Women, Donates N250m

 First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Empowers 2,500 South-East Women, Donates N250m

....Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the distribution of empowerment items to 2,500 women in the South-East geopolitical zone, while announcing a N250 million financial donation to the beneficiaries.

The initiative, held in Owerri, Imo State, is aimed at supporting women to establish new businesses or strengthen existing enterprises as part of efforts to promote economic empowerment and improve household welfare.

The programme covers Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, with 500 women initially selected as beneficiaries in each state.

According to the First Lady, the nationwide initiative will ultimately empower 18,500 women across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, with 500 beneficiaries drawn from each state and the FCT.

Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu said the beneficiaries would receive items including deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines to support their businesses.

“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.”

She commended the Imo State Government for expanding the programme in the state by providing an additional 2,000 empowerment items.

The gesture, she noted, brings the total number of women benefiting from the programme in Imo State to 2,500.

“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,” she said.

Senator Tinubu urged other state governors to emulate the Imo State Government by supporting initiatives that promote women's economic independence.

She also linked the programme to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and SDG 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth.

The First Lady urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment and financial support judiciously, describing the intervention as a foundation for improving their livelihoods and creating better opportunities for their families.

“To the beneficiaries of this empowerment programme, I encourage you to use these resources judiciously to grow your business. Let these items serve as a foundation for creating a better life for yourselves and your families,” she said.

As part of the intervention, Senator Tinubu donated N250 million to the 2,500 women beneficiaries.

The empowerment items distributed at the event included deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines.

The programme is being implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative was earlier flagged off in Abuja for the North-Central zone on February 21, 2025, while distribution exercises have also been held in the South-South and South-West zones.

Earlier in the day, the First Lady was conferred with the chieftaincy title Oso Di Eme of Imo State by the Council of Traditional Rulers of Imo State.

The title, which means “One who supports her husband,” was bestowed on Senator Tinubu in recognition of her role in supporting and advancing policies and programmes of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

While urging Nigerians to continue to trust the administration, the First Lady said the country had emerged from its economic difficulties and was now on a steady path towards prosperity.

She expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms and interventions would ultimately deliver greater economic opportunities and improved living standards for Nigerians.