By Adedotun Ajayi

In a bid to improve the well-being of women and girls across the country, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital, to seek the backing of traditional rulers for her women-focused Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), as she flagged off the South-West leg of the project.

Mrs Tinubu, who met with members of the Ondo State Council of Obas, urged the monarchs to throw their weight behind her advocacy to tackle pressing health issues affecting Nigerian women, including the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Syphilis and Tuberculosis.

As part of her drive to strengthen healthcare delivery, the First Lady announced plans to distribute no fewer than 10,000 professional kits, comprising Crocs and scrubs, to nurses and midwives across the South-West region.

She also hinted at a new menstrual hygiene campaign tagged Flow with Confidence, through which her office intends to supply 10,000 sanitary pads to young girls in each state, with a focus on rural areas.

“Ending female genital mutilation is also one of our key priorities. It’s a harmful and outdated tradition built on myths. It does not stop promiscuity, as some believe. Instead, it destroys the lives of young girls,” she said, urging traditional leaders to help spread the message in their domains.

The First Lady didn’t stop there. She spoke passionately about boosting food production through the Young Farmers’ Club and Women’s Gardening Initiative, which she said had attracted a massive N400 billion intervention fund from the Ministry of Agriculture. According to her, each state’s First Lady received a grant of N68.9 million to support women farmers under the programme.

Also on the agenda is a scholarship scheme for students—including international education opportunities in Belarus—as well as the Alternative High School for Girls, an initiative tailored for teenage mothers, providing both education and childcare support through on-site crèches. She revealed that while the programme is already operational in Osun State, it will soon be launched in Ondo.

Welcoming the First Lady, the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas and Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, who was represented by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, commended Mrs Tinubu’s initiatives and pledged the support and prayers of the traditional institution.

“We may not be able to offer financial help, but our prayers will never cease for the success of President Tinubu’s administration,” the monarch assured.

Oba Aladelusi also hailed the First Lady’s loyalty and visible support for her husband, stating: “By the time Asiwaju completes his first term, Nigerians will beg him to go for another.”

The highlight of the visit was the symbolic presentation of a gift to Mrs Tinubu by the wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa.

The event drew a crowd of dignitaries, including Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami and his wife, Mrs Abosede Adelami; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, represented by Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu; APC State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philips; First Ladies from other states, political appointees, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.