The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged market women to refrain from increasing the prices of food items as the Yuletide season approaches. She made this appeal during the 2024 Women’s Day Celebration held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Addressing women at the event, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized the importance of fair pricing to ease the financial burden on families during the festive period. Her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, confirmed the statement, adding that the First Lady commended Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for his unwavering support for women, particularly in appointments and economic interventions.
“As we approach the festive season, I appeal to market women not to exploit the situation by unfairly hiking the prices of food items,” she said.
During her visit to Ebonyi, the First Lady inaugurated a 3.1-kilometer runway at the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Onueke. She expressed optimism that the airport’s commercial operations would spur socio-economic development in the state.
In a meeting with Ebonyi State traditional rulers at the Presidential Lodge, Mrs. Tinubu lauded the peaceful atmosphere of the state and urged the royal fathers to continue fostering unity and progress. “Nigeria has everything it takes to be a great nation. We must bless this land, and I appeal to our traditional rulers to take the lead in this endeavor,” she said.
Highlighting the state’s strides in gender inclusion, the First Lady commended Governor Nwifuru for exceeding the 35% benchmark for female appointments. “Your deputy governor is a woman, so is your Secretary to the State Government, and many others in key positions,” she noted.
Governor Nwifuru also announced a significant empowerment initiative, offering 130 business owners N1 million each as recapitalization grants. Complementing this, Mrs. Tinubu revealed donations from her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), including N50 million, 20,000 wrappers, shoes, and bags to support women entrepreneurs in Ebonyi State.
The First Lady’s visit underscores her commitment to fostering inclusivity, economic empowerment, and social cohesion, particularly as the festive season draws near.
