DESPITE a “walkout” staged by Rivers women at the empowerment scheme for 500 underprivileged women in Rivers State, the State Government said the event still held.
A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Rivers State Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, said the empowerment event, held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt on Friday, saw beneficiaries receive deep freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators.
The statement said the wife of the President, Senator Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Rivers State Administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas, addressed the women, noting that the initiative is part of a broader national program targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Recall the Rivers women had trooped out to receive the President’s wife, but instead of seeing her, they saw the wife of the Sole Administrator, Lady Ete-Ibas, on the podium to address them. Angered by the development, the women staged a walkout.
According to the SSA in the statement, the initiative was aimed at enhancing livelihoods and fostering national development. It was carried out by 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 the First Lady, the scheme has already been completed in the North Central zone, with the Rivers State event marking its conclusion in the South-South region.
“These tools are designed to help our women establish and grow successful businesses, contributing to the nation’s prosperity,” she said. “This program reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development—particularly for women.”
She further highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Dr. Ibas underscored the critical role of peace in achieving lasting development, noting that her husband’s appointment as Rivers State Administrator was aimed at restoring stability. She urged residents to support efforts to maintain law and order, ensuring the state returns to its “cherished path of glory.”
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, emphasised the need for women to engage in productive ventures amid current economic challenges. She stated that the program was designed to drive inclusive growth through strategic partnerships while addressing poverty and hunger.
