Abuja: The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged women in leadership positions to take proactive steps towards empowering other women through mentorship and economic initiatives. This call to action was made during a visit by the Forum of Female Chief Executive Officers of Government Agencies and Organisations at the State House in Abuja.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Mrs. Tinubu praised the female CEOs as pioneers who deserved their positions and emphasized their responsibility to mentor younger women. She encouraged them to “birth yourselves in others” and to ensure that their influence extends beyond their official capacities. The First Lady highlighted the importance of women supporting each other to create a stronger community.
Mrs. Tinubu also reminded the Forum of historic female figures such as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Gambo Sawaba, and Abibat Mogaji, who significantly impacted Nigerian women’s lives. She urged the current generation of women leaders to come together and continue the legacy by making life easier for women, mentoring young women, and providing scholarships.
The First Lady also mentioned her initiative to seek a partnership for the completion of the National Library, which she believes would significantly benefit indigent students in their educational pursuits.
The meeting also featured Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, who leads the Forum. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the nation and pledged the Forum’s support for the First Lady’s initiatives. Dabiri-Erewa praised Mrs. Tinubu’s dedication to women’s empowerment and affirmed the Forum’s commitment to promoting women’s rights and gender equity.
She assured the First Lady of the Forum’s collaborative efforts in fostering unity among women from different backgrounds and driving progress towards national development. The meeting was attended by 24 female CEOs heading various government agencies and organizations.