First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has appealed to voters in the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, saying she wants to see a better Nigeria and enjoy the country in her later years.
She made the appeal on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo State, while speaking during her visit to the state as part of a women’s empowerment programme.
Addressing the gathering, the First Lady urged the people of the region to back her husband at the polls, saying the administration was working towards improving the country.
She said, “Make una vote for Mr President, we go work for una and Nigeria go better. I want to enjoy Nigeria at old age, so I will work for Nigeria, for my old age.”
The visit also focused on an empowerment initiative being implemented through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the programme, a total of 18,500 women are expected to benefit nationwide. In the five South-East states, 500 women from each state are scheduled to receive equipment intended to help them establish or expand small businesses.
The items include generators, industrial grinding machines, gas cylinders and ovens.
However, the number of beneficiaries in Imo State was increased after Governor Hope Uzodimma provided additional empowerment materials for 2,000 women.
With the governor’s intervention, the number of women expected to benefit in Imo rose to 2,500.
Responding to the additional beneficiaries provided by the state government, Mrs Tinubu announced a further cash intervention of N100,000 for each woman participating in the programme.
She said the initiative was designed to strengthen the economic position of women and recognize their contribution to families, communities and national development.
According to her, empowering women is consistent with the Federal Government’s emphasis on economic growth and sustainable development, particularly by creating opportunities that can improve household livelihoods.
The First Lady also urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the equipment and financial assistance they had received.
She described the support as a starting point for the beneficiaries to build more sustainable livelihoods and improve the welfare of their families.
The programme, she explained, was part of efforts to support women who contribute significantly to economic activity but often face challenges accessing the resources needed to expand their businesses.
Uzodimma, in his remarks, commended the First Lady for the initiative and her efforts towards supporting women across the country.
The governor also expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the people of Imo State had seen what he described as the Federal Government’s interventions in infrastructure and other areas of development.
He said the state appreciated the President’s performance and pledged that Imo would support his return to office in 2027.
Uzodimma described the administration as committed to building a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria, adding that the people of the state were grateful for what he called the President’s commitment to national development.
The First Lady’s visit forms part of the administration’s wider engagement with women and communities across the country, while her appeal for support in the South-East also comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify.
