Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to empowering women at the grassroots, insisting that criticism will not deter efforts aimed at supporting petty traders and strengthening small-scale businesses across the country.
Speaking during the unveiling of a ₦200 million empowerment initiative for women petty traders in the state, the First Lady said the programme was designed to improve livelihoods and create sustainable economic opportunities for women operating micro-enterprises.
Under the initiative, 2,000 women are expected to benefit, with each recipient receiving a ₦50,000 grant to support and expand existing businesses.
Addressing concerns and criticisms surrounding the intervention, Senator Tinubu maintained that women’s economic empowerment remains a priority and should not be discouraged.
According to her, “Support for women at the grassroots is essential to building stronger families and more resilient communities. Criticism will not stop our determination to continue creating opportunities for women to succeed.”
She explained that the intervention targets women engaged in various forms of petty trading and is part of broader efforts to promote financial inclusion and encourage self-reliance.
The First Lady further assured beneficiaries that similar programmes would continue across the country to enhance women’s economic participation and help small businesses thrive.
She reiterated that empowering women economically contributes directly to national development and urged beneficiaries to utilise the support effectively to improve their businesses and household incomes.
