Eight First Ladies and wives of ministers and heads of federal security agencies were on the roll call as First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, distributed 10,000 kits to midwives and nurses in the South East in Enugu on Monday.

Those in attendance at the event, which was held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Enugu, were the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Deputy President of the Senate, Hajiya Laila Barau; First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma; Jm Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Dr. Falmata Zulum of Borno State, Priscilla Otti of Abia State, Dr. Claudia Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun of Ogun State.

Others were the wife of the governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titilayo Adeleke and Dr. Gloria Diri of Bayelsa State, while Benue State was represented by the Special Advisor to the Governor on Women Affairs, Scholastica Ben-sor.

The event, according to Mrs. Tinubu, marked the last phase of a nationwide distribution of branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs across the six geopolitical zones to complement the ongoing nationwide training exercise for 120,000 frontline health workers by the Federal Government, of which 60,470 workers have already completed their training.

“Since the initial launch in January 2025, we have distributed 50,000 scrubs and 50,000 pairs of Crocs to five geopolitical zones—namely North Central, North East, North West, South-South and the South-West.

“The RHI recognises that the demands of the health profession require not only skill and compassion but also the right tools and kits to encourage our midwives as they serve others.

“I officially hand over this professional kits comprising 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 pairs of Crocs to the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency for onward distribution to our midwives in the South-East Zone,” she said

In addition, Mrs Tinubu announced a grant to support female petty traders in the state.

“In the spirit of today’s event, the Renewed Hope Initiative will be presenting an additional grant of ₦50 million to the First Lady of Enugu State, with the sum of ₦50,000 each to support 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State to recapitalise their existing businesses,” she stated.

Speaking, the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, commended Mrs. Tinubu’s efforts, stressing that the empowerment of the midwives represented sanitation, professionalism, respect, and renewed public trust in the nation’s healthcare institutions.

He said the state was ramping up the training of health workers to address the brain drain in the sector.

“In response to the brain drain that has strained our healthcare workforce, we have taken decisive steps. Key among these is the successful elevation of our School of Nursing to collegiate status.

“This means the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences, with four campuses, has the capacity to graduate 3,000 nurses annually. This is not just a statistic. It is a strategy — a bold stride towards rebuilding the backbone of our healthcare system,” he stated.

 

In her remark, wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, commended the First Lady for her huge impact on the Nigerian society through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“Renewed Hope Initiative has significantly impacted countless lives across our nation’s diverse geopolitical zones. Your noble endeavour has brought succour and hope to communities that have long yearned for such intervention. Here in Enugu State, we are profoundly grateful for the transformative outcomes of the Renewed Hope Initiative,” she said.

At another event, which held at the popular Michael Okpara Square, on the same day, the President’s wife, who was represented by wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, distributed food items to the vulnerable members of the society.

Earlier in the day, the First Lady was at the House of Chiefs, Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, where she spoke about the Renewed Hope Initiative and canvassed national unity.