By Celine-Damilola Oyewole
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women in leadership positions to work harder and ensure they make life easier for other women through economic empowerment and mentorship.
She made the call when the Forum of Female Chief Executive Officers of Government Agencies and Organisations visited her in the State House, Abuja, on Friday.
Mrs Tinubu, who described the CEO’s as “trail blazers who fit perfectly into their roles”, added that they all have a duty to play by replicating themselves in younger women.
She said “birth yourselves in others. Look for them to mentor them. Replicate yourselves in other women and that is the way we would be strong.
“Make yourselves unforgettable through the things you do outside your office.”
The first lady mentioned few female great matriarchs in the nation to include late Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Gambo Sawaba, Abibat Mogaji and others, noting that they did a lot for Nigerian women by speaking up when needed.
She suggested that “we have to come together, better and stronger than them. We have to ensure that we make life easier for women.
“Mentor young women, give scholarships, take one person through life. Don’t look for the volume.”
On her decision to call for partnership in the completion of the National Library, the first lady said that the project would go a long way in helping indigent students in their educational pursuit.
The leader of the forum, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Director-General, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said female CEOs never took the opportunity to serve the nation lightly and would continue to champion good governance and service to the people.
She added that “as a group, we do not take our mandates lightly and are sincerely grateful to President Bola Tinubu for deeming us fit and proper to hold our respective offices.
“This is why we are here to pledge our support to this administration and to you as the first lady of the nation.
“We commend your Renewed Hope Initiatives, your dedication to women empowerment is truly inspiring. Your efforts at women’s inclusion and ensuring women’s voices are heard are noteworthy.
“Your support for women’s rights and gender equity, and initiatives that uplift women are immense, therefore, as a group and also as individuals, we affirm our commitment and unflinching support for your initiatives.”
Dabiri-Erewa also promised that the forum would work collaboratively with the first lady to foster unity among women from diverse backgrounds, drive progress and implement initiatives that promote women empowerment and national development.
“We pledge our solidarity and support for the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President, and we will assiduously work for his success in the 2027 election, ” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 24 female CEOs heading various government agencies and organisations in the nation visited the first lady.
(NAN)
