Commissions 50 CNG buses, flags off ₦1bn empowerment scheme for 5,000 Edo residents
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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has declared that President Bola Tinubu has laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s enduring future through reforms and policies introduced by his administration in the last three years.
She said the reforms were driven by a clear vision to redirect the country’s course and build a stronger nation capable of securing a better future for its citizens.
Mrs Tinubu stated this on Thursday during a visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, as part of her one-day working visit to Edo State.
The First Lady, who highlighted interventions under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), said the programmes were designed to complement the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda through targeted support for agriculture, education, healthcare, economic empowerment and social investment.
According to her, the ultimate desire of the President is to build a formidable and prosperous nation where citizens can enjoy a better quality of life.
“Your tenure is a lifelong one, while our period here is limited. So, we are doing all that we can to see that when we finish this assignment, we too can go back to a Nigeria that is comfortable,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu also expressed the hope that traditional rulers would be involved in the implementation of some RHI interventions, particularly grants for persons with disabilities and the Elderly Support Programme scheduled for December.
She explained that working through traditional institutions would help extend the programmes’ reach to grassroots communities and ensure that more vulnerable Nigerians benefit.
The First Lady further called on traditional rulers to support public awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and syphilis, as well as the importance of birth registration and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
She stressed the need for collective action to improve public health and protect vulnerable populations.
In his remarks, Oba Ewuare II commended the First Lady for her interventions in promoting the welfare and advancement of women across the country.
Describing her as a role model for women and girls, the monarch said girl-child education should be prioritised and the wellbeing of women and children treated as a collective responsibility.
“Girl child education is not a waste,” the Oba said, adding that the wellbeing of women and children deserved the attention of all stakeholders.
As a mark of honour, the Benin royal court presented Mrs Tinubu with the traditional Benin royal beads known as Ikele.
From the palace, the First Lady proceeded to commission 50 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses procured by the Edo State Government to improve public transportation, before flagging off a ₦1 billion financial empowerment programme for 5,000 beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, she described the buses as more than a transportation project, saying they represented expanded economic opportunities, improved mobility and renewed hope for residents.
“Today, we are not merely commissioning buses; we are commissioning opportunity, mobility and hope, because behind every bus is a human story,” she said.
She explained that affordable and accessible transportation would benefit students travelling to school, traders going to markets, parents taking their children to school, workers commuting to their workplaces and artisans travelling to job sites.
Mrs Tinubu said the transition to CNG-powered transportation also presented opportunities for job creation across several technical and professional fields.
According to her, the sector would require technicians, engineers, drivers, mechanics, safety personnel, fleet managers and other skilled workers.
She therefore urged the Edo State Government to prioritise training and capacity building to equip young people with the skills needed to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities in the sector.
The First Lady also welcomed the state government’s empowerment initiative, which will provide ₦200,000 each to 5,000 beneficiaries, describing it as a means of strengthening livelihoods, supporting small businesses and promoting self-reliance.
She said the programme was expected to benefit women, young people and vulnerable residents.
The ₦1 billion intervention, alongside the commissioning of the 50 CNG buses, formed part of the state government’s efforts to support livelihoods and improve access to affordable transportation.
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