First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday in Benin, the Edo State capital, inaugurated 50 CNG-powered buses acquired by the state government to improve public transportation and ease the financial burden of commuting on residents.
She described the intervention as an important step towards making transportation more affordable, expanding economic opportunities and improving the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
‘Today, we are not merely commissioning buses; we are commissioning opportunity, mobility and hope, because behind every bus is a human story. There is a student who needs to get to school. There is a trader who needs to get to the market. There is a mother who needs to take her children to school and return to her business. There is a young person travelling to work. There is an artisan moving to a job site. There is a civil servant going to work,’ she said.
The First Lady noted that improved transportation would have a direct impact on productivity, commerce and household finances, particularly for low-income earners who depend heavily on public transport.
‘That is why today’s event is a story of Renewed Hope. When transportation becomes more affordable and accessible, economic opportunities become a reality,’ she added.
Beyond the immediate benefits of affordable transportation, Mrs. Tinubu identified the transition to CNG-powered vehicles as a significant opportunity for job creation and skills development among young Nigerians.
She explained that the expansion of CNG transportation would generate demand for specialised technical services, creating employment opportunities across several areas of the economy.
‘The CNG transition will require technicians, engineers, drivers, mechanics, safety personnel, fleet managers, and other skilled professionals. I see enormous opportunity for our young people. This means that beyond transportation, we are expanding economic opportunities and creating jobs in these sectors,’ Mrs. Tinubu said.
The First Lady urged the Edo State government to complement its investment in CNG transportation with appropriate technical training and capacity-building programmes.
‘I encourage the Edo State government to prioritise training and capacity building in these fields to unlock their full potential,’ she stated.
The First Lady also praised the state government for introducing a N1 billion financial empowerment programme to support 5,000 beneficiaries with grants of N200,000 each.
She explained that the intervention would strengthen small businesses, improve livelihoods and promote financial independence among beneficiaries, including women, young people and vulnerable residents.
‘I am also pleased to see that the Edo State Government is empowering 5,000 beneficiaries through a financial empowerment of N200,000 each to strengthen livelihoods, support small businesses and enable beneficiaries to become more self-reliant. This intervention, I am told will reach women, youth and the vulnerable,’ the First Lady stated.
She described the transportation and empowerment initiatives as practical examples of how government interventions could stimulate economic activity, promote inclusion and translate development policies into tangible benefits for citizens.
In Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu pledged to collaborate with traditional institutions and announced plans to partner with rural women through her Renewed Hope Initiative.
Delivering a message from the Presidency, the First Lady said: ‘He (President Bola Tinubu) asked me to appreciate your support and wish you well on your 10th coronation anniversary. We didn’t plan it this way, but it is divine.
‘I am truly happy, and I wish you long life, divine health, prosperity, joy, peace, and fruitfulness.’
Speaking at the inauguration of the CNG buses, Senator Tinubu said the initiatives to empower 5,000 vulnerable persons and buy CNG buses demonstrated Governor Monday Okpebholo’s love for the people of Edo and an important step towards improving livelihoods as well as supporting economic growth.
She said the state government’s empowerment of 5,000 beneficiaries with N200,000 each would strengthen their livelihoods, support small businesses, and promote financial independence.
‘I pray that the monies received will prosper in your hands and grow your businesses,’ Mrs. Tinubu said.
The First Lady inaugurated the 50 CNG buses and formally launched the N1 billion economic empowerment programme for the beneficiaries.
Governor Okpebholo described the First Lady’s visit as a demonstration of care, compassion, and commitment to the welfare of the people.
‘Your visit is not just a ceremonial engagement. It is a demonstration of care, compassion and our commitment to the growth of our people,’ he said.
Okpebholo said the initiatives addressed two critical needs of the people: affordable transportation and economic empowerment, particularly for women and small business operators.
The governor said the CNG buses would make public transportation more accessible, affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly, while the empowerment programme would strengthen beneficiaries’ economic activities.
‘When you empower a woman, you strengthen a family, uplift a community and contribute to the prosperity of society,’ Okpebholo said.
Also, Mrs. Tinubu said the economic reforms and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the last three years have laid a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sustainable development and enduring prosperity.
She said the administration’s policies, though requiring difficult adjustments, were driven by a long-term vision of building a stronger and more comfortable country for present and future generations.
Mrs. Tinubu said this when she visited the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, at his palace, as part of her one-day working visit to Edo State.
Also yesterday, Mrs. Tinubu called for increased investment in rural women across Nigeria, particularly through improved access to land, finance, training, technology and markets, to strengthen food security, accelerate economic growth and promote sustainable community development.
She noted that empowering rural women would not only improve their livelihoods but also enhance the prosperity of families, strengthen communities and contribute significantly to national development.
Mrs. Tinubu spoke in Abuja in her message to this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, observed globally on October 15.
The First Lady, who inaugurated 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses procured by the Edo State government and flagged off a N1 billion empowerment programme for 5,000 beneficiaries in Benin, said the Tinubu administration remained committed to creating opportunities that would improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
She noted that President Tinubu’s administration’s policies and programmes were designed to redirect the nation’s development trajectory and establish a foundation capable of sustaining progress long after its tenure.
Mrs. Tinubu maintained that the President’s greatest desire was to bequeath a formidable and prosperous nation in which Nigerians could enjoy improved living standards and greater economic opportunities.
Addressing the Benin monarch, she said: ‘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.’
The First Lady highlighted the contributions of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to the administration’s development agenda, particularly through interventions in agriculture, education, economic empowerment, healthcare, and social investment.
According to her, the initiative has continued to complement the Federal Government’s programmes by reaching vulnerable Nigerians and providing support to communities across the country.
Mrs. Tinubu announced plans to deepen collaboration with traditional institutions in implementing some of RHI’s social intervention programmes to ensure wider coverage at the grassroots.
She expressed the hope that traditional rulers would become more involved in the distribution of grants to persons with disabilities and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Programme, scheduled for December.
The First Lady noted that the involvement of traditional institutions would enhance the effectiveness of the interventions by making them more accessible to intended beneficiaries, particularly those in underserved communities.
Mrs. Tinubu urged traditional rulers to support public awareness campaigns on critical healthcare issues, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and the importance of birth registration.
She stressed the need to leverage the influence of traditional institutions in promoting preventive healthcare and encouraging greater public participation in programmes designed to safeguard the wellbeing of women, children, and vulnerable populations.
In an address read by his eldest daughter, Princess Ikuoyemwen Aimiuwu-Ewuare, Oba Ewuare II prayed to God and called on the kingdom’s ancestors to grant President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders divine wisdom and strength to fulfill their responsibilities for Nigerians.
Oba Ewuare II said his reign has been a journey of service, reflection, renewal, and continued commitment to preserving Benin cultural heritage, while ‘strengthening traditional institutions and promoting peace, unity, and the well-being of our people’.
The Benin monarch said Senator Tinubu has represented Nigeria gracefully on the global stage.
He urged the First Lady to consider collaborating with the Oba Ewuare II Foundation to strengthen initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women, children, young people, and vulnerable communities.
Oba Ewuare II said: ‘Empowering women, protecting children and providing young people with access to education and economic opportunities are essential to building stronger families and securing the nation’s future.’
He hailed the First Lady for her commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian women and children through the various interventions of the RHI.
The monarch described her as an exemplary figure whose contributions to women’s empowerment and girl-child education deserved recognition and support.
‘You are a worthy example to women and girls in Nigeria,’ Oba Ewuare said.
Emphasising the importance of investing in the education and development of girls, the monarch added: ‘The girl-child education is not a waste.’
He stressed that the ‘well-being of women and children deserves our collective attention’.
As a mark of honour and recognition of her contributions, the Benin Royal Court presented the First Lady with the traditional Benin royal beads, known as Ikele.
Senator Tinubu is the first Nigerian First Lady and the third prominent Nigerian woman to receive the Ikele traditional beads as an expression of appreciation for her goodwill towards the kingdom’s traditional institution.
Also, the First Lady described rural women as indispensable contributors to agricultural production, food security and the sustenance of local economies, stressing the need for deliberate efforts to expand opportunities available to them.
She noted that this year’s celebration was particularly significant because it coincided with the International Year of the Woman Farmer, which seeks to draw greater attention to the contributions of women to agricultural development and food systems.
According to her, the observance provides another opportunity for governments and other stakeholders to recognise the challenges confronting rural women and intensify efforts to improve their economic opportunities.
‘On this International Day of Rural Women 2026, we celebrate the resilience, dedication, and contributions of rural women to agriculture, food security, economic growth, and community development,’ Mrs. Tinubu said.
The First Lady emphasised the importance of recognising women farmers as critical participants in agricultural development and ensuring that they have access to the resources required to improve productivity and their economic circumstances.
‘This year’s observance is especially significant as it falls within the International Year of the Woman Farmer, drawing greater attention to the essential role women play in sustaining our food systems and rural economies,’ she stated.
The First Lady urged greater commitment to addressing the barriers limiting rural women’s access to productive resources and economic opportunities.
‘We should invest more in rural women by expanding their access to land, finance, training, technology and markets. When rural women are empowered, families prosper, communities flourish, and nations grow stronger,’ she said.
Mrs. Tinubu congratulated rural women on the occasion, acknowledging their resilience, dedication and contributions to the well-being of families, communities and the nation.