A minor disruption occurred on Friday at an empowerment program in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organized under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Some women staged a walkout, insisting that the wife of the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, should address them instead of the wife of the state’s administrator.
The event, initiated by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, aimed to distribute empowerment items to 500 women in Rivers State, in collaboration with the office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the ceremony faced a brief interruption when Theresa Ibas, the wife of the Rivers State Administrator, was invited to speak.
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A group of women began chanting, “Bring back Fubara, we don’t know Ibas,” and walked out, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended governor so that his wife, Valerie, could address them.
While the protest continued outside, the program proceeded indoors without further incident.
The administrator’s wife delivered the speech on behalf of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who stated that the Rivers State event marked the conclusion of the scheme in the South-South region, following its completion in the North Central zone.
She noted that the initiative is a nationwide program targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The distributed items included freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators, intended to help women establish and grow their businesses and contribute to the nation’s economy.
Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development, especially for women.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, stressed the importance of women engaging in productive activities given the current economic challenges.
She explained that the program aims to foster inclusive growth through strategic partnerships and address poverty and hunger.
The state Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Tonye Oniyinde-Briggs, clarified that the 500 beneficiaries were selected from all 23 local government areas of Rivers State and encouraged them to use the items effectively to maximize the program’s impact on their livelihoods.
See video below:
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