First lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in partnership with Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has empowered 500 women across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment were given deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines to support them in starting or growing their existing business.
At the event held at Oyo State government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, said having recognised critical role women play in nation-building, the programme aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritised inclusivity, economic growth and sustainable development for all Nigerians, particularly women’s economic empowerment.
She stated that women empowerment was central to achieving all the SDGs, especially SDG-5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, and SDG-8 on decent work and economic growth.
“The items being distributed today are to equip our women with the necessary tools and resources they need to build successful businesses and to contribute to the prosperity of our great nation,” she said.
She urged beneficiaries of the empowerment to use the resources judiciously to grow their businesses.
In her remark, the senior special assistant to President Tinubu on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire said the empowerment marked another bold effort to empower women across 36 states of the federation including FCT.
She said the empowerment was a milestone to drive meaningful economic impact across Nigeria.
Orelope-Adefulire thanked Mrs Tinubu for improving the lives of Nigerian women, adding that RHI has been a beacon of hope to Nigerian women, giving them potential and creating an enabling environment for women to thrive.
She said one of the aims of the empowerment was to build sustainable livelihood for Nigeria women which aligned with SDG goal, urging beneficiaries of the empowerment to use it as a stepping stone towards their financial sustainability.
Oyo State commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun described the empowerment programme as a clear demonstration of Mrs Tinubu’s efforts towards upliftment of women and making them self-reliant across Nigeria.
