A brief disruption marked the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, as a group of women staged a walkout, demanding that the wife of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara address them instead of Theresa Ibas, wife of the state’s administrator.
The event, organized by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in collaboration with the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, aimed to distribute empowerment items to 500 women across Rivers State. However, tensions flared when Theresa Ibas was invited to speak. Chanting “Bring back Fubara, we don’t know Ibas,” the protesting women exited the venue, calling for the reinstatement of Governor Fubara so his wife, Valerie, could represent the state.
Despite the outdoor protest, the programme continued indoors, with Ibas delivering a speech on behalf of Senator Tinubu. The First Lady highlighted that the initiative, which has now concluded in the South-South region after the North Central zone, is part of a national effort targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Items distributed included freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators.
“These tools are designed to help women establish and grow successful businesses, contributing to the nation’s prosperity,” Tinubu said, emphasizing the programme’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development for women.
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, underscored the importance of women engaging in productive ventures amid economic challenges, noting that the initiative aims to drive inclusive growth and combat poverty and hunger through strategic partnerships.
Tonye Oniyinde-Briggs, the state Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, explained that the 500 beneficiaries were selected from all 23 local government areas of Rivers State. She urged them to utilize the items effectively to start or expand businesses, maximizing the programme’s impact.
The walkout reflects ongoing political tensions in Rivers State following Governor Fubara’s suspension, but the event proceeded peacefully, with organizers reaffirming their commitment to empowering women nationwide.
