First Lady urges women leaders to empower, mentor next generation

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women in leadership roles within the administration of President Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts toward economic empowerment and mentorship for young women.

She made this appeal during a visit by the Forum of Female Chief Executive Officers of Government Agencies and Organizations at the Presidential Villa on Friday, September 12, 2025.

The visit brought together 24 female CEOs heading various government agencies and organizations, reflecting a growing network of women leaders dedicated to inclusive governance and the empowerment of Nigerian women across sectors.

In a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady, describing the female CEOs as “trailblazers” who have successfully carved their paths in government, she stressed that their responsibility is to replicate their achievements by mentoring and empowering the next generation of women leaders. “Birth yourselves in others. Look for them to mentor them. Replicate yourself in other women and that is the way we would be strong,” she advised.

She encouraged the women to extend their influence beyond their official duties to make lasting impacts, saying, “Make yourselves unforgettable by the things you do outside your office.”

The First Lady recalled the legacy of prominent Nigerian matriarchs such as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Gambo Sawaba, and Abibat Mogaji, underscoring how these women united to champion the rights and advancement of Nigerian women in earlier generations. “We have to come together, better and stronger than them. We have to ensure that we make life easier for women. Mentor young women, give scholarships, take one person through life. Don’t look for the volume,” she stated.

Mrs. Tinubu also highlighted her commitment to education by calling for partnerships to complete the National Library project, noting its potential to support indigent students and enhance their academic pursuits.

In her remarks, the leader of the Forum, Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the nation and pledged unwavering support for the Tinubu administration. She commended the First Lady’s dedication to women’s empowerment through the Renewed Hope Initiatives and acknowledged her efforts to ensure women’s voices are included in governance.

“As a group, Your Excellency, we do not take our mandates lightly and are sincerely grateful to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for deeming us fit and proper to hold our respective offices, and that is why we are here to pledge our support to the Administration and to you as the First Lady of the Nation,” Dabiri-Erewa said. She affirmed the Forum’s commitment to collaborate closely with the First Lady’s office in fostering unity among women from diverse backgrounds, promoting progress, and advancing initiatives for women’s empowerment and national development.

The Forum’s commitment also extended to the political arena, with Dabiri-Erewa pledging their solidarity for the President’s Renewed Hope agenda and vowing to work diligently toward his success in the 2027 election.