The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to empowering women economically in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
She made this statement on Saturday in Lagos during the official flag-off of the Renewed Hope Initiative in the South-West geo-political zone. The event also featured the presentation of empowerment items to 1,000 women in the region.
The programme was jointly organized by the Renewed Hope Initiative and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals. It is part of a nationwide plan to lift 18,500 women out of poverty and to strengthen economic development across Nigeria.
According to the First Lady, the Renewed Hope Initiative is a humanitarian effort designed to complement President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of ensuring that all citizens benefit directly from government programmes.
She explained that 500 pre-selected women from Lagos and other South-West states were given empowerment items such as deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, power generators, and industrial grinding machines.
“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. These items will be distributed by state first ladies and Renewed Hope Initiative state coordinators in the South-West zone,” she said.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that the items were meant to help the beneficiaries either start or grow their businesses. She urged the women to make good use of the opportunity.
“To the beneficiaries, I encourage you to use these resources judiciously to grow your businesses. Let these items serve as a foundation for creating a better life for yourselves and your families,” she added.
She also praised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the programme with an additional 500 empowerment items, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in Lagos to 1,000.
“I commend Mr Governor for this gesture and his commitment to the growth and development of women in Lagos State. In recognition of the critical role women play in nation-building, this programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which prioritises inclusivity, economic growth and sustainable development for all Nigerians, particularly women. Empowerment of women in all spheres of life is central to achieving all the SDGs, especially SDG-5 on gender equality and empowering all women and girls, and SDG-8 on decent work and economic growth, which are all relevant to the purpose of this gathering,” the First Lady said.
She further commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, for her support towards the initiative.
Earlier in her remarks, Orelope-Adefulire charged the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the items provided. She emphasized that the programme is a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote economic transformation nationwide.
“The programme is not just about distributing items. It is about unlocking potential, fostering economic independence and creating opportunities for women to thrive,” she explained.
She highlighted that economic empowerment of women remains a crucial driver for gender equality, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
“The empowerment items, which include gas cookers, generators, deep freezers and grinding machines, are designed to equip women with the tools they need to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Orelope-Adefulire added.
She expressed gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her leadership in improving the lives of women, youths and underserved communities across all 36 states of Nigeria. She also thanked the Lagos State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative and the wife of the Governor of Lagos State for their collaboration.
Orelope-Adefulire acknowledged Governor Sanwo-Olu’s contribution of 500 additional equipment, describing it as a thoughtful initiative that complements the Federal Government’s policies and programmes.
“We thank you for additional support of 500 equipment to the initiative. I encourage the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity. Let this empowerment material serve as a stepping stone towards financial independence for youth, business development and sustainable livelihood. When a woman is empowered, a woman is able to build, the community is strengthened, and the nation prospers,” she said.
In his remarks, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the programme as historic and an important show of compassion towards women.
“This gesture is a testament of leadership and unwavering belief that when we lift a woman, we lift families, we lift communities and, indeed, we lift an entire nation. Your Excellency, our mother, our beloved First Lady, words are certainly not enough to capture the depths of our gratitude that we feel toward you for your timeless commitment to the empowerment of women across our nation. We have watched you, we have heard your voice, your voice of courage, you have been a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope for women and children,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu added that the empowerment of 1,000 women in Lagos was more than just giving out items but a foundation for long-term progress.
“This ceremony which is the empowerment of 1,000 women is far more than the distribution of support. It is sowing the seed that will grow into forests of possibility,” he said.