The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the distribution of empowerment items to women across the South-East geopolitical zone, with 2,500 women in Imo State set to benefit from the initiative.
The empowerment programme, organised under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets 500 women in each of the five South-East states-Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Owerri, Senator Tinubu emphasised the critical role of economically empowered women in strengthening families and promoting the overall prosperity of society.
She said the nationwide rollout of the programme would ultimately empower 18,500 women across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, with 500 beneficiaries selected from each state and the FCT.
According to her, beneficiaries are receiving items including deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines to enable them to establish new businesses or expand existing ones.
“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 said.
The First Lady also commended the Imo State Government for providing an additional 2,000 empowerment items, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 2,500.
She urged other state governors to emulate the gesture and provide additional support for women in their respective states.
Senator Tinubu linked the initiative 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.
She urged the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously and make them a foundation for improving their livelihoods and supporting their families.
In addition to the empowerment items, the First Lady announced a cash donation of N250 million to the 2,500 women beneficiaries.
Earlier in the day, Senator Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of 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 the First Lady in recognition of her role in supporting and advancing the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The First Lady also called on Nigerians to continue to trust the administration, expressing optimism that the country had emerged from its economic difficulties and was now on a steady path towards greater prosperity.
The South-East rollout is part of the broader nationwide empowerment programme, following previous phases of the initiative in other geopolitical zones.