On Wednesday, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, donated fabrics to the Forum of 36 State Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Capital Territory. This donation was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative to acknowledge their support.
The First Lady was represented at the event by Hajia Nana, the wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima, along with her team. The donation of fabrics took place at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja. The delegation included Fatima Abbas, the spouse of the Speaker for the House of Representatives; Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President; Salamatu Gbajabiamila, the wife of the Chief of Staff; and the wives of several ministers in the current administration.
This donation came just a week after the women leaders expressed their concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had neglected them despite their significant contributions to his election victory. The aggrieved women, led by forum President Patricia Yakubu, voiced their complaints to the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, lamenting that all they received after the 2023 general election were a single bag of rice and a paper wrapper.
During the donation event on Wednesday, Hajia Nana praised the First Lady for her efforts in promoting inclusiveness and women empowerment within the party. She emphasized that the donation was specifically intended for APC women involved in the fabric business. She said, “I am here representing the wife of our president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Her Excellency, the mother of the nation, asked me to extend her greetings to everyone and to offer a few words of encouragement. I must say that I am one of the beneficiaries of her generosity because, during the Boko Haram crisis, Her Excellency was one of the first senators to come to my state to condole with the people of Borno State.
“Sincerely, the little present we came with today is to support our APC women leaders who are into the fabrics business. Probably, the quantity might not meet your expectations. But I urge you to take it in good faith and be assured that more of these programs are on the way.
“My appeal to all of us here is to be our sister’s keepers. No matter what, let us appreciate one another. We all know it is easy to destroy but very difficult to build. To Mr. President, I believe he is also a gender-friendly person like the First Lady. He has given many opportunities to women as ministers and heads of MDAs in his government.”
Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the APC, welcomed the delegation and praised the First Lady’s gesture, stating that it was in line with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Ganduje said, “So, this is a good omen to improve the financial status of our women. I am happy to hear that this program is for women who are already in the fabric business. Their businesses had been down due to the present global economic challenge.
“This program will serve as an asset because it will increase their goods and when they sell, they can buy more wrappers to shore up their businesses. I want to advise those who are in charge of this program that the First and Second Ladies (of Nigeria) have done their part. What is left is for you to be honest, transparent, and nationalistic so that these wrappers will get to the target group. Secondly, don’t charge anything, including transport fare, on these wrappers. They were given free, and you should also give them free.”