In a bid to drive women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development, particularly at the grassroots level, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched an empowerment program for women in the North Central Zone.
The initiative, a collaboration between the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), aims to directly impact 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The rollout begins with 500 beneficiaries from each state in the North Central Zone.
Empowering Women for Economic Independence
Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Tinubu reiterated her commitment to women’s empowerment as a foundation for national development.
“Recognizing the critical role women play in our society, this initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development for all Nigerians.”
The First Lady emphasized that the program will provide women with essential tools such as deep-chest freezers, gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines to enable them to start or grow their businesses. She also highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-5 (gender equality) and SDG-8 (decent work and economic growth).
A Collaborative Effort for Women’s Economic Growth
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, emphasized that the program is more than just a distribution of empowerment items; it is about unlocking women’s potential and fostering economic independence.
“By equipping 500 women per state and the FCT with essential business tools, we are strengthening their capacity to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to inclusive national development.”
Similarly, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, hailed the initiative as a major shift from donor-dependent funding to domestic resource mobilization, ensuring long-term sustainability.
“When women are empowered, families thrive, children stay in school, and communities prosper. This program is a testament to our commitment to nation-building through women’s empowerment.”
Next Steps: Expanding the Impact
The North Central Zone Women’s Empowerment Programme marks a significant step in advancing gender equality and economic inclusion in Nigeria. With plans already underway for similar programs in other regions, the South-South Zone has been identified as the next beneficiary.
This initiative underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to empowering women as agents of economic transformation and sustainable development.