The wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday empowered 500 women with items such as refrigerators, gas cookers, electric generators and industrial grinding machines in Niger.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Bida, Tinubu said the programme was designed to equip women with the necessary tools and resources to build successful businesses and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.
Tinubu, represented by Hajiya Fatima Bago, Wife of Niger Governor, said the programme was in collaboration with the office of the senior special assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
She explained that the empowerment programme aimed to benefit 18,500 women across the six geopolitical zones.
She said the empowerment programme aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which prioritised inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development for all Nigerians, particularly women’s economic empowerment.
She urged beneficiaries to use the items judiciously to start or grow their businesses, adding that the items were meant to serve as a foundation for creating better lives for them and their families.
In her remarks, Mrs Elizabeth Shaba, Commissioner for Small and Medium Enterprise, advised beneficiaries not to sell the items.
She commended the courage, bravery and caring nature of Mrs Tinubu and the wife of the Niger governor, which has positively impacted the lives of many in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying the items would improve their means of livelihood and help them become self-reliant.
