OWERRI, Imo State Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the South-East phase of a women’s empowerment programme, providing business equipment and financial support to women across the region.
The initiative was flagged off in Owerri, with 500 women selected from each of the five South-East states Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
The beneficiaries are receiving equipment intended to help them establish or expand small businesses. Items distributed include deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, generators and industrial grinding machines.
Imo State, however, received additional support beyond the original allocation.
The state government provided equipment for an additional 2,000 women, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in Imo to 2,500.
To complement the equipment, Senator Tinubu announced a ₦250 million financial grant for the 2,500 Imo beneficiaries. This amounts to ₦100,000 for each woman, alongside the business equipment provided under the programme.
The intervention forms part of the broader Renewed Hope Initiative women’s empowerment programme, which is aimed at improving the economic opportunities available to women and helping them develop sustainable sources of income.
The wider programme is expected to reach 18,500 women across Nigeria, with beneficiaries drawn from states across the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
The First Lady encouraged the beneficiaries to put the equipment and financial support to productive use, emphasising the importance of turning the assistance into sustainable businesses rather than treating it simply as a one-time government intervention.
The programme is also designed to contribute to broader efforts around women’s economic empowerment, poverty reduction, job creation and improved household welfare.
With thousands of women receiving productive assets and financial assistance, the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on how effectively the beneficiaries are able to convert the support into functioning businesses and stable sources of income.
During her visit to Imo, Senator Tinubu was also honoured with the traditional title “Oso Di Eme of Imo,” in recognition of her role in supporting programmes aimed at improving the welfare and economic opportunities of Nigerians.
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