The wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged market women to refrain from increasing the prices of food items as the festive season approaches.
Speaking at the 2024 Women’s Day Celebration in Ebonyi State, held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized the need for fairness in pricing to alleviate economic pressures on citizens.
“With the Yuletide season fast approaching, the First Lady appealed to market women to refrain from unfair hikes in prices of food items during the festive season,” her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, noted in a statement released on Saturday.
Mrs. Tinubu also commended the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for his exceptional support for women, particularly in appointments and economic interventions.
“Let me go back to greet your governor. He has gone beyond the 35 per cent in female appointments. His deputy governor is a woman, same for the Secretary to the State Government and many down the line,” she said. “Now I want to announce that he has decided to empower 130 people with businesses with one million Naira each as business recapitalization grants.”
During her visit, the First Lady inaugurated a 3.1-kilometer runway at the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Onueke. She described the development as a significant boost to the state’s socio-economic growth, noting that commercial activities at the airport would further drive progress.
Interacting with traditional rulers at the Presidential Lodge in Abakaliki, Mrs. Tinubu extolled Ebonyi’s peaceful nature, calling it a symbol of hope for the nation. She urged traditional leaders to continue fostering unity and progress across the country.
“Nigeria has everything it takes for us to be a great nation. We have to continue to bless this land, and I appeal to you, our traditional rulers, to lead in that regard,” she stated.
As part of her visit, the First Lady announced a donation of N50 million, alongside 20,000 wrappers, shoes, and bags, to support women’s businesses in the state. She also highlighted the role of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in empowering women and promoting economic stability.
