In a bid to enhance economic prospects for women, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed essential business equipment to 500 underprivileged women in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
The empowerment initiative, aimed at improving livelihoods and supporting national development, was implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the event saw beneficiaries receive deep freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators.
Represented by Dr Theresa Ibas, wife of the Rivers State Administrator, Mrs Tinubu stated that the programme forms part of a broader national scheme targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
“These tools are designed to enable our women to establish and expand successful businesses, thereby contributing to the nation’s prosperity,” she said.
According to the First Lady, the programme has already concluded in the North Central zone, with the Rivers State edition marking the end of the South-South phase.
“This initiative reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development—particularly for women,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu also highlighted the programme’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Dr Ibas emphasised the importance of peace in achieving lasting development. She noted that her husband’s appointment as Rivers State Administrator was intended to restore stability and urged residents to support ongoing efforts to maintain law and order, thereby returning the state to its “cherished path of glory.”
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Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, stressed the importance of women engaging in productive ventures amid prevailing economic challenges. She noted that the programme was designed to foster inclusive growth through strategic partnerships while addressing poverty and hunger.
Mrs Tonye Oniyinde-Briggs, Rivers State Coordinator of the RHI, explained that the 500 beneficiaries were drawn from all 23 local government areas of the state. She urged the women to make effective use of the items, whether to start new businesses or expand existing ones, in order to maximise the programme’s impact.
The empowerment scheme reinforces the federal government’s commitment to uplifting women and building economic resilience across the country.
