… Eight First Ladies, Top Dignitaries Attend Enugu Event
Eight First Ladies, alongside wives of ministers and top federal security chiefs, joined Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Enugu on Monday as she distributed 10,000 professional kits to midwives and nurses in the South-East, in a landmark healthcare empowerment initiative.
Held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, the high-profile event featured the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Laila Barau; First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma; Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi of Jigawa State; Dr. Falmata Zulum of Borno State; Priscilla Otti of Abia State; Dr. Claudia Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; and Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun of Ogun State.
Also in attendance were Mrs. Titilayo Adeleke of Osun State and Dr. Gloria Diri of Bayelsa State, while Benue State was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Scholastica Ben-Sor.
Mrs. Tinubu stated that the event marked the final phase of the nationwide distribution of branded scrubs and crocs, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), complementing a federal programme that has trained over 60,000 frontline health workers so far.
“Since the initial launch in January 2025, we have distributed 50,000 scrubs and 50,000 pairs of Crocs to five geopolitical zones — namely North Central, North East, North West, South-South and the South-West,” she said.
“The RHI recognises that the demands of the health profession require not only skill and compassion but also the right tools and kits to encourage our midwives as they serve others.”
Mrs. Tinubu formally handed over the professional kits — comprising 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 pairs of Crocs — to the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency for onward distribution to midwives across the South-East.
In addition, the First Lady announced a ₦50 million grant targeted at 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State, to help them recapitalise their small businesses.
“In the spirit of today’s event, the Renewed Hope Initiative will be presenting an additional grant of ₦50 million to the First Lady of Enugu State, with the sum of ₦50,000 each to support 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State to recapitalise their existing businesses,” she announced.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, praised the First Lady’s initiative, stating that the empowerment of midwives signifies a new chapter of professionalism, dignity, and public trust in the health sector.
“In response to the brain drain that has strained our healthcare workforce, we have taken decisive steps. Key among these is the successful elevation of our School of Nursing to collegiate status,” Mbah said.
“This means the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences, with four campuses, has the capacity to graduate 3,000 nurses annually. This is not just a statistic. It is a strategy — a bold stride towards rebuilding the backbone of our healthcare system.”
Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, also hailed the First Lady’s intervention through the Renewed Hope Initiative, describing it as a life-changing programme for women and communities across Nigeria.
“Renewed Hope Initiative has significantly impacted countless lives across our nation’s diverse geopolitical zones,” she said.
“Your noble endeavour has brought succour and hope to communities that have long yearned for such intervention. Here in Enugu State, we are profoundly grateful for the transformative outcomes of the Renewed Hope Initiative.”
Later in the day, at Michael Okpara Square, the President’s wife — represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima — distributed food items to vulnerable citizens, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to social welfare.
Earlier, she had visited the House of Chiefs at the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, where she discussed the vision behind the Renewed Hope Initiative and advocated for national unity.
The events showcased the First Lady’s multi-faceted agenda of health support, women’s empowerment, and peace-building as part of her broader national outreach.
