By Omoyeni Ojeifo
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged women to take a more active role in governance and community leadership.
She emphasized that their involvement is essential to driving the “Renewed Hope” agenda and building public support for ongoing government reforms.
She spoke at the inauguration of the Tinubu Torchbearers, a support group aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, held at the Presidential Villa banquet hall in Abuja on Wednesday.
Describing the initiative as a platform for patriotism, service, and national development, the First Lady urged citizens to actively support government programmes.
“Women leading Renewed Hope agenda for national development and continuity is a mandate for every citizen to contribute to our national progress, unity and prosperity,” she said.
She noted the symbolic torch initiative was designed to strengthen women’s participation across the country.
“I hereby pass this light to you and to light other women that are under you.”
Highlighting ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration, she pointed to interventions in agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, job creation, and social investment.
“Already, significant steps have been taken to strengthen agriculture, support local industries, improve healthcare delivery, create jobs, attract investments and expand opportunities for Nigerians across various sectors,” she added.
She stressed that sustainable development requires collaboration between government and citizens.
“Government alone cannot achieve sustainable development without the support, cooperation and active participation of the people,” she emphasized.
The First Lady also commended APC members for what she described as peaceful conduct during recent party primaries, saying the ruling party had demonstrated political maturity.
She further urged members of the Torchbearers initiative to intensify advocacy for government programmes and serve as ambassadors of the administration across communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted the Tinubu administration’s commitment to women empowerment and economic inclusion.
She referenced the Nigeria for Women programme, as one of the largest women focused investments on the continent, implemented in partnership with federal and state governments under the Renewed Hope agenda.
“The biggest investment in Africa is the 40 million dollar investment in collaboration with the federal government and the state government,” she said.
She noted that the programme is already expanding access to financing for thousands of women across the country.
“Already 25,000 women have been structured for proper financing, we must reach the 774 local government areas so that women at the grassroots are fully carried along.”
The Minister said the interventions were already yielding results, citing testimonies from beneficiaries who have recorded increased income and improved livelihoods.
“This is what economic empowerment means under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” she said.
She urged women to continue supporting government programmes aimed at social and economic inclusion, insisting that women remain central to national development.
The event was attended by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, and the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajuddeen Abbas.
Others are the APC National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile Idele and women leaders from across the country, wives of lawmakers, ministers, deputy governors; and other senior APC stakeholders.
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