First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated ₦250 million and commercial empowerment equipment to 2,500 women across the South-East geopolitical zone to boost female-owned small businesses and lift household incomes.
The official flag-off ceremony took place on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026, in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The zonal empowerment drive was organized under the First Lady’s flagship project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to an official press release issued on Wednesday by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the First Lady, the intervention targeted 500 pre-selected women beneficiaries across the five South-East states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The beneficiaries received high-grade equipment including deep-chest freezers, industrial grinding machines, maxi gas cookers with ovens, and power generators to launch new ventures or expand existing enterprises.
In her address at the event, Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the key role of economic empowerment for women in national stability.
”Today, 500 preselected women beneficiaries in each state in the South-East will be provided with empowerment items… to support them in starting or growing their existing businesses. Empowering women in all spheres of life is central to achieving the SDGs, especially SDG-5 on gender equality and SDG-8 on decent work and economic growth,” the First Lady stated.
She assured citizens that Nigeria has emerged from its tough economic reforms, stating the nation is “out of the dark tunnel” and moving toward long-term prosperity.
The event saw a major local boost when the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, announced an additional provision of 2,000 equipment units for local women in Imo State. Governor Uzodimma’s contribution raised the total beneficiary count in Imo State from 500 to 2,500 women.
In recognition of her nationwide social interventions, the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers conferred on the First Lady the chieftaincy title of “Oso Di Eme of Imo” (One who supports her husband) during the ceremony.
The South-East event marks the latest leg of the nationwide initiative, which aims to reach 18,500 women across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
