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• Conferred with chieftaincy title of Oso Di Eme of Imo
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First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu has donated N250 million and empowerment equipment to 2,500 women across the South-East geopolitical zone as part of efforts to boost women-owned businesses and household incomes.
The First Lady made the announcement on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo State, while flagging off the distribution of empowerment items to women beneficiaries across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, according to a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi.
The initiative, being implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides each state with 500 pre-selected women beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries are receiving deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines to enable them to start new businesses or expand existing ones.
Mrs Tinubu said the empowerment of women remained critical to strengthening families and building a prosperous society.
“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.
She disclosed that the nationwide rollout of the programme would ultimately empower 18,500 women, with 500 beneficiaries drawn from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu, however, singled out Imo State for commendation after Governor Hope Uzodimma provided an additional 2,000 empowerment items for women in the state.
“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.
“I commend His Excellency for this generous gesture and encourage other State Governors to emulate this worthy example.”
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The First Lady said empowering women was also central to the achievement of the 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.
“Similarly, empowering women in all spheres of life is central to achieving all the SDG goals, 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,” she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to deploy the items judiciously and use them as a foundation for building sustainable businesses and improving the welfare of 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.
“I hope and pray that what you received today will prosper in your hands.”
The First Lady also urged Nigerians to continue to trust the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the country was steadily emerging from its economic difficulties.
She said Nigeria was “out of the dark tunnel” and on a steady path towards economic prosperity for all.
Earlier, the First Lady was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Oso Di Eme of Imo State by the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state.
The title, which means “One who supports her husband,” was conferred on her in recognition of her role in driving policies and programmes of the President Bola Tinubu administration for the benefit of Nigerians.
The RHI/SDGs empowerment initiative was first flagged off for the North-Central Zone in Abuja on February 21, 2025, followed by the South-South distribution on April 25, 2026, and the South-West rollout on August 23, 2025.
