Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has the full backing of President Bola Tinubu’s Government for his re-election to a second term in office. Mrs Tinubu, therefore, urged Imo Women to come out in their hundreds of thousands on November 11, 2023, and vote massively for Governor Uzodinma.
On same occasion, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and his wife, Barrister (Mrs) Chioma Uzodinma, harped on the role of women in national development
They said these on Friday in Owerri, September 1, 2023, when Nigeria’s First Lady, Wife of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived Owerri, Imo State, for the grand finale of the Annual August Meeting where she spoke to a mammoth crowd of Imo women.
She said that already, the Governor has the backing of the current administration at the centre to complete his second term in office.
Nigeria’s First Lady spoke at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in her capacity as Special Guest of Honour at the 2023 Grand Finale of Imo Women’s August meeting organised by the First Lady of Imo State, Barr (Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma.
Also at the occasion, Governor Uzodimma and his wife were in agreement that women have great roles to play in the development of the Nigerian society and are, indeed, doing a lot already and should be encouraged to be the best they can.
The event which attracted women clad in motley of beautiful attires from the 27 Local Government areas of Imo State, was also graced by wives of serving and former Governors, ministers, lawmakers, All Progressives Congress stalwarts, captains of industries, traditional rulers, among other dignitaries.
The wives of the Governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Nasarawa, and former wives of Governors of Kano and Oyo States attended the event.
It was an event where Mrs Tinubu announced the empowerment of 2000 women from Imo State in support of the efforts by Mrs Uzodimma to lift the women and the girl-child out of poverty, with a pledge to do more in line with her Renewed Hope Empowerment Initiative.
In her remarks, Mrs Tinubu described the Women August meeting as a wonderful occasion “worthy to be borrowed by every tribe in the country.”
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the voices of women are heard, their needs are addressed, and their legacies are preserved.”
She said, “empowering women is not just a slogan, but a commitment towards a better life for families in every State of the Federation because when we support women and uplift their status, we uplift the entire society.”
She described her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) as a concept which focusses on women and families, with scope in agriculture, education, health, economic empowerment and social investment.
On the forth coming Imo State governorship election, Mrs Tinubu said: “As we navigate the part towards the governorship election in Imo State let us not lose sight of the transformative power that women hold.
“I call on all of you great women of Imo State, to come out en mass and vote overwhelmingly for Governor Hope Uzodimma for a well-deserved second term and to complete the good work he has started, and I believe you know that he has the backing of this present administration.
“I believe that you will give him that vote so that his dreams and aspirations for the people of Imo will be actualised.
“With his re-election by the grace of God, Imo State will be set for a greater lease of life. I urge you, all of us here present, to stand united behind Governor Hope Uzodimma who has championed gender equity and parity. He has continued to pursue the course of a better life for all the people of Imo State.”
Mrs Tinubu who said she was delighted to be here in Owerri to celebrate the wonderful women of Imo State extended her appreciation to Mrs. Uzodinma for inviting her “for the first time to experience the Imo Women August Meeting.”
” I salute her commitment to the course of the great women of Imo State and her resolve to ensure that the women get the best dividends of democracy. Thank you,Your Excellency.”
Mrs Tinubu thanked the people of Imo State for the overwhelming support she got from them during the 2023 Presidential election and assured that the current administration is doing everything possible to ensure a better life for every Nigerian.
She said one of the reasons she came to Imo was to reassure Imo women of “the Federal Government’s commitment to making Nigeria a more prosperous nation, where all of us and generations yet unborn will be proud to belong.”
Mrs Tinubu’s speech read in part: “Today, as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the achievements and progress of women at this Annual Imo Women August Meeting, we are reminded of the remarkable strength, resilience, and contributions that women bring to our society.
“While we note the accomplishments of the younger generation which are undoubtedly inspiring, let us not forget the invaluable role that the elderly women play in shaping our communities and indeed our future. Our elderly women have been the backbone of our families, our communities, and our States.
“At this year’s celebration which has the theme – Women Supporting Each Other, Making Things Happen – I am delighted to be here in Owerri, celebrating the wonderful women of Imo State.
“I extend my appreciation to the wife of the Executive Governor of Imo State, Her Excellency, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma for inviting me for the first time to experience the Imo Women August Meeting. I salute her commitment to the course of the great women of Imo State and her resolve to ensure that the women get the best dividends of democracy. Thank you,Your Excellency.
“I must also at this time thank the good people of Imo State for their overwhelming support during the 2023 Presidential election – daalu noor.
“I assure you all that the administration is doing everything possible to ensure a better life for every Nigerian.
“This is one of the reasons we are here today, to reassure you of the Federal Government’s commitment to making Nigeria a more prosperous nation, where all of us and generations yet unborn will be proud to belong.
“Today, as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the achievements and progress of women at this Annual Imo Women August Meeting, we are reminded of the remarkable strength, resilience, and contributions that women bring to our society.
“While we note the accomplishments of the younger generation which are undoubtedly inspiring, let us not forget the invaluable role that the elderly women play in shaping our communities and indeed our future. Our elderly women have been the backbone of our families, our communities, and our States.
“At this year’s celebration which has the theme – Women Supporting Each Other, Making Things Happen – we must take cognizance of the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of our older women, which have paved the way for the progress we enjoy today. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the voices of women are heard, their needs are addressed, and their legacies are preserved. The wisdom they possess, the stories they tell, and the guidance they provide are essential pillars for our society.
“The support we are advocating is what we have come to present today through the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Social Investment Agenda by celebrating the elderly and the widows at this event.
“We join our voices with that of Her Excellency, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma and indeed that of His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, against all forms of sexual and domestic violence, fight against trafficking in persons, drug abuse and other gender-based vices in the society.
“Empowering women is not just a slogan for us in the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, but a commitment towards a better life for families in every State of the Federation.
“When we support women and uplift their status, we uplift our entire society. And this empowerment extends to women of all ages, from the young girls who dream of their future to the elderly women who have shaped our past.
“These are the hallmarks of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). It is an Initiative which is focused on women and families with its scope in Agriculture, Education, Health, Economic Empowerment and Social Investment.
“I assure you all that the Initiative will soon be back in Imo State to give you our modest contributions in the area of Economic Empowerment, which the wife of the Executive Governor has said you are all interested in…
“In the pursuit of a better future for Imo State and our nation Nigeria, let us remember that we are strongest when we stand together.
“In closing, let us honour the women who came out today—the pillars of strength, the bearers of wisdom. We celebrate the potential and promise of the women who walk among us today. And let us commit ourselves to a future where every woman’s voice is heard, every woman’s contribution is valued, and every woman’s dreams are within reach.
“As we celebrate The Women of Imo State today, let us also celebrate the elderly women who have nurtured us, guided us, and set examples for us who never abused us, but loved us even when we do not do right. Let us recognize that their strength and wisdom as invaluable assets that we must cherish and protect.
“Together, as a united community, we can ensure that their contributions continue to shape the course of this State, not only today but for generations to come.”
Earlier, the Chief Host, Mrs Uzodimma reminded the women of what they stand to gain by supporting and helping each other, particularly as they find themselves in positions to do so.
In her address, Mrs. Uzodimma informed that the 2023 August Meeting was outstanding with reports showing that women in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State were highly enthusiastic and attended the meetings with joy.
She said that the level of participation of Imo women in the meeting and their readiness to take responsibilities shows that “the days when women are ignored are over.’’
She urged Imo women to ensure peace reigns in their families and society at large, noting that when they do so the level of insecurity in the society will be reduced to the barest minimum.
She reiterated that without peace not much can be achieved among the women, the family and the society, “therefore women have a big role to play in restoring peace by talking to their children and educating them to be good citizens of the State and Nation.”
Imo First Lady told the audience that in today’s Nigeria women are better educated and occupy positions of authority and have the opportunity to lead the way for a better tomorrow, emphasising that there is every need for women to love one another.
On the theme for the meeting, she said: “Women should support one another, because; women have common problems, women achieve more when they support each other. When women support each other their children are better off and women by nature like to give assistance… for every successful woman there is another supporting her. Women benefit more by cooperation than competition.’’
Mrs. Uzodimma recalled that the Governor had executed projects in Imo State aimed at empowering the women, youths and moving them away from crime and criminality, identifying the programmes like the Skill-Up programme, skills acquisition and empowerment and more importantly, conducive environment for the youths to thrive as part of them.
Mrs Uzodimma said that her office has keyed into the programmes of the Governor and his women friendly government and by doing so, “Imo women have gained a lot beyond mere empowerment,” through the offices of the Chief Judge of Imo who is a woman, several women Commissioners, SAs and SSAs and Chairmen of Commissions and Agencies.
She said despite the several achievements recorded in the 3R Government of her husband, her office will continue to push for more women and people leaving with disabilities (PLWD) to be included in the programmes and policies of the Governor.
Mrs Uzodimma announced that her Office was rounding off the August Meeting with the empowerment of 500 women with different household equipment, foodstuffs, agricultural/farming seedlings and stems in addition to 1,000 indigent women that will go home with cash empowerment.
She thanked the wife of Mr. President for honouring the invitation and pledged continued loyalty to her and the President Tinubu.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye expressed joy for being part of the August Meeting Grand Finale in Imo and used the opportunity to reveal that the World Bank has some packages for Nigerian Women to enhance their economic growth.
The minister said her Ministry plans to assist women to uplift themselves and appealed to the girl child to protect herself by being responsible and asking all women to stay away from crime.
In his brief remarks, Governor Uzodimma on behalf of the Government and people of Imo State thanked the wife of Mr. President for finding time to attend the programme in person and for supporting the women empowerment programme through counterpart funding.
He also congratulated the wife and members of the Organising Committee for mobilising Imo women in such organic manner and magnitude that was “overwhelming in the eyes of all present.”
“I sincerely congratulate all the women, and more importantly, my adorable wife, the First Lady of Imo State, Her Excellency Chief (Barr.) Chioma Uzodimma, for well-thought-out theme for this year’s Meeting: Women Supporting Each Other Makes Things Happen.
“I have always known that women are strong believers in the maxim, ‘united we stand and divided we fall.’
“Therefore, I am not under any illusion that the strength of our women lies more in their ability to work together to achieve results, the reason they make a lot of differences where the men folk flounder.
“As you round off your activities for the 2023 August meeting, be rest assured that my 3R government which most of you are key players, and which has shown
considerable interest in the welfare of the entire womenfolk in our State, will stop at nothing to promote the positive ideals that you as our wives, mothers, sisters, aunties and daughters represent.”
The ceremony featured other programmes like march past by different women groups in Imo State and had in attendance the three Senators from Imo State, Federal House of Representatives members, female Ministers, traditional rulers and distinguished Nigerians too numerous to mention.
Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor
September 1, 2023.
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