The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the distribution of empowerment items to 1,000 women in Lagos State under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which will cut across Nigeria tagged “36,000 Smiles Across Nigeria”. The colourful ceremony, held in Lagos, was attended by prominent dignitaries.

The empowerment programme is part of the First Lady’s nationwide intervention aimed at providing sustainable livelihoods for women, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to Senator Tinubu, 500 women were initially targeted for support in Lagos State, but with the additional 500 empowerment items contributed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, the total beneficiaries in the state rose to 1,000. The distributed items included deep freezers, grinding machines, and electricity generating sets, along with transport stipends to ease the movement of the items.

Senator Tinubu said the initiative is about equipping women with the necessary tools and resources to support their families and contribute meaningfully to the growth of their communities. She added that the programme is currently ongoing across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with over 18,500 women expected to benefit nationwide.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), described the initiative as another bold step towards empowering Nigerian women across the 36 states and the FCT. She appreciated Senator Tinubu’s exemplary leadership and reaffirmed the Presidency’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, noted that empowering women means empowering the entire nation. She charged beneficiaries to use their items productively and extend the benefits to others. Empowering women helps households thrive and the economy grow stronger.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended Senator Tinubu for championing the cause of women, noting that the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth. He pledged to sustain similar empowerment programmes in Lagos to ensure that more women and families benefit.

The First Lady urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the empowerment items, emphasizing that the goal is to create sustainable livelihoods and build resilient communities.

The Lagos flag-off marks another milestone in the Renewed Hope Initiative’s nationwide campaign to reduce poverty, eliminate hunger, promote good health, and foster peace and justice, in line with the President’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria.