Oluremi Tinubu Flags Off Empowerment Scheme for 2,500 South-East Women

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has reiterated the importance of empowering women to improve the wellbeing and prosperity of families and society.

In a statement signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant, Media to the First Lady, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Oluremi Tinubu stated this in Owerri, Imo State, during the flag-off of the distribution of empowerment items to women across the South-East geopolitical zone.

The initiative provides 500 beneficiaries in each of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states with empowerment items to support them in starting or expanding their businesses.

The First Lady said the nationwide rollout would empower 18,500 women across the country, with 500 beneficiaries selected from each state and the Federal Capital Territory.

“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 disclosed that Imo State would have an additional 2,000 beneficiaries following an intervention by the state government.

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“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. I commend His Excellency for this generous gesture and encourage other State Governors to emulate this worthy example”.

The First Lady said the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in collaboration with the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), had been rolling out the programme across the country.

She said the initiative was first flagged off in Abuja for the North-Central Zone on February 21, 2025, followed by distributions in the South-South Zone on April 25, 2026, and the South-West Zone on August 23, 2025.

Oluremi Tinubu said empowering women was central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to gender equality 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”.

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She urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the items provided to them.

“To the beneficiaries of this empowerment program, 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. I hope and pray that what you received today will prosper in your hands”.

In addition to the empowerment items, the First Lady donated N250 million to the 2,500 women beneficiaries.

The items distributed included deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines.

Earlier, Oluremi Tinubu was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Oso Di Eme of Imo by the Council of Traditional Rulers of Imo State.

The title, meaning “One who supports her husband,” was conferred on her in recognition of her role in driving the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for the benefit of Nigerians.

While urging Nigerians to trust the Tinubu administration, the First Lady said the nation had emerged from its economic difficulties and was on a steady path towards economic prosperity for all.