First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu Champions Healthcare Support and Women Empowerment as She Visits Enugu with Renewed Hope

 

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, began her two-day working visit to Enugu State on a strong and symbolic note, flagging off a significant health intervention for frontline workers across the South-east. The event marked the final stage in a nationwide effort to provide essential workwear to midwives and nurses.

Held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu, the event witnessed the official handover of 10,000 sets of branded scrubs and crocs to the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency for onward distribution. These kits are aimed at supporting midwives operating in the South-east geopolitical zone.

Senator Tinubu emphasized that this move concludes a six-month journey of equipment distribution which began in January 2025. So far, the initiative has covered North-central, North-east, North-west, South-south, and South-west regions, with 50,000 kits already deployed before the South-east phase.

According to her, the ongoing effort reflects a commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce. She acknowledged the strenuous demands of the medical profession, noting that equipping health workers with adequate tools serves as both motivation and acknowledgment of their critical role in society.

“As we reach the final phase of this national intervention, I officially hand over 10,000 branded scrubs and 10,000 pairs of crocs to our midwives in the South-east zone,” she stated, reinforcing the federal government’s broader effort to train 120,000 frontline health workers. Over half of these have completed their training.

Beyond healthcare, the First Lady’s visit carried a message of economic inclusion. She announced a financial empowerment initiative aimed at supporting female petty traders within the state. Under the Renewed Hope Initiative, the sum of N50 million was handed over to the wife of the Enugu State Governor to be disbursed among 1,000 women traders, each receiving N50,000 to strengthen their small businesses.

Her engagements during the visit included a stop at the House of Chiefs located in the Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, where she addressed traditional rulers. She advocated for unity and mutual respect across Nigeria’s diverse cultures and communities. Traditional leaders, she stressed, play a vital role as liaisons between government and grassroots communities and should align with national efforts in tackling social and health challenges.

“The diversity we have in Nigeria is not a weakness. It is a strength that should unite rather than divide us. Our shared goal should be a safer, healthier, and more prosperous country,” she asserted, while also calling for their support in campaigns against diseases and harmful practices like cervical cancer, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Female Genital Mutilation.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State praised the First Lady’s commitment to healthcare and empowerment, describing her as the Florence Nightingale of modern times. According to him, the scrubs and crocs represent more than clothing items; they symbolize sanitation, renewed trust in the system, and professionalism among health practitioners.

He added that the state government has taken robust measures to address the long-standing issue of brain drain in the health sector. Through the recent elevation of the School of Nursing to collegiate status, the newly christened Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences now has the capacity to produce 3,000 nurses annually across four campuses.

“This is not just a number. It is a deliberate step to restore the backbone of our healthcare system,” Mbah noted.

Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, wife of the Enugu State Governor, extended her appreciation to the First Lady. She remarked that the Renewed Hope Initiative has brought tangible benefits to communities that had long been underserved, and commended Mrs. Tinubu’s continued commitment to uplifting women and families nationwide.

The president’s wife also extended her reach to vulnerable members of the society. At Michael Okpara Square, a crowd gathered as food items were distributed. Representing her at the event was Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, who described the distribution as a gesture of compassion and national responsibility.

Nana Shettima praised both the First Lady’s leadership and President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving lives, stating that the present administration’s focus on social investment and inclusive development is gradually transforming the nation’s welfare landscape.

Throughout the day, the First Lady’s message remained clear — national progress must be inclusive, rooted in unity, and driven by the empowerment of people at the grassroots. Her visit to Enugu has not only marked the completion of a key national program but has also sown seeds of hope, collaboration, and healing in a region central to Nigeria’s growth story.