National
August Meeting: Tinubu’s wife pledges to empower 37,000 petty traders
The Wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has promised to empower 37,000 petty traders across the country as a way of cushioning the effect of the economic difficulty on women.
Tinubu made the pledge on Friday in Enugu, when she declared open this year’s August Meeting organised by the Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah.
She said that through her Renewed Hope Initiative Women Economic Empowerment, 1,000 petty traders in each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, would be supported.
Tinubu, represented by the
Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, said, “Our women will be supported with N50,000 each to recapitalise and support their businesses.
“Through the Renewed Hope initiative, we are working tirelessly toward a better life for families.
“The scope of our programmes covers education, social investment programme, agriculture, health and economic empowerment.
“In economic empowerment, we have provided women with ICT training to improve digital skills.
“In education, we have provided scholarship to our children and youths across the country with opportunity to study abroad.
“Also in agriculture, we have supported our women farmers with fertilizers and farming implements.
“Under our social investment programme, assorted food items are moving from one state to another.”
The president’s wife said that the August Meeting had made a significant impact over the years and provided a vital platform for mothers, daughters and sisters to address pressing societal issues.
She pointed out that the annual tradition of Igbo women gathering
had helped to mobilise women for community building, political participation, empowerment and community development.
She described the theme of the meeting, “Eliminating abuse to foster a healthy society,” as a clarion call to action, adding that abuse in all forms must be eradicated.
“Every individual has the right to safety, free from physical, domestic, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, material, modern slavery and discrimination.
“We must speak up against abuse, try to dialogue responsibly and work together to foster a sense of empathy, compassion towards one another,” she said.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Mbah said that August Meeting is a cherished tradition in Enugu State that gathers and unites women from all corners of the state to share knowledge, experiences, and aspirations.
According to her, the meeting is not just a social event but a powerful platform for women’s empowerment, advocacy, and community development.
She further said that through her Custos Care Foundation, women across the three senatorial zones of the state had been empowered while the issue of maternal and child mortality were being addressed.
“In line with our commitment to uplift the lives of our women, we are pleased to announce that empowerment packages will be given to indigent women during this year’s meeting.
“The packages are designed to provide support and resources to those who need them most, helping them to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their families and society,” she said.
The event was attended by the Wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, different women groups and women delegations from 17 Local Government Areas.
Highlights of the colourful event included march past by various women groups and cultural dances. (NAN)
Former governor of Sokoto State and current Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to reclaiming power in 2027.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of a Ramadan aid distribution programme, Tambuwal assured supporters that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would regain its “stolen mandate” in the next general elections.
The initiative, aimed at assisting fasting Muslims during Ramadan, will benefit 30,000 households across Sokoto State.
Tambuwal noted that this effort was in addition to food assistance programmes being carried out by PDP lawmakers at both state and federal levels.
“As you are aware, many people have lost their lives and are no longer with us. By His grace, we are here to witness another Ramadan and provide support to our people once again,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to party leaders and supporters for their commitment, stressing that the PDP remained united in Sokoto.
“We are one big, united family. We shall continue to work together towards reclaiming what has been taken away from us.
In the last elections, our mandate was forcefully stolen, but we are restrategising and reorganising. By the grace of Allah, we will reclaim it in 2027,” Tambuwal declared.
Sokoto State PDP chairman, Comrade Bello Goronyo, echoed similar sentiments, thanking party members for their loyalty.
He criticised the current government, attributing the economic hardships faced by Nigerians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We urge the people of Sokoto and Nigerians at large to free themselves from the misgovernance of the APC in 2027,” Goronyo stated.
The PDP’s Ramadan assistance programme includes the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and other essential grains to youth and women-led organisations across the state.
Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step aside until an investigation into Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims against him is concluded.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her.
The allegation followed a heated argument between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangement.
Subsequently, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.
The senator was thereafter suspended for six months.
In a statement on Monday, Ezekwesili demanded that Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, should preside over a session tasked with conducting a swift and independent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.
The former minister said the senate should reverse the suspension of the senator and retract all punitive measures imposed on her.
“The senate president steps aside, and the deputy senate president immediately convenes a session that rescinds the unconstitutional and illegal suspension of senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and reverses all punitive measures imposed on her so she resumes her duties as a duly elected senator representing her Kogi central constituency and gets the fair hearing due her within senate processes,” Ezekwesili wrote on X.
“Resolve and announce that a prompt independent investigation into the resubmitted petition by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is imperative and swiftly request ICPC to designate the Independent Investigation consistent with the ICPC Act which designates sexual harassment as one of the corrupt practices it can investigate and prosecute.”
Ezekwesili urged the senate to restructure its ethics committee in response to the allegation, harping on the need to appoint an independent investigator to thoroughly examine the matter.
“Reconstitute the senate ethics and privileges committee under a new chairperson with the mandate to commence a public hearing on the resubmitted petition on sexual harassment by the senate president Akpabio,” she said.
“The committee receives informed recommendations from the Independent Investigation by ICPC-appointed investigator and appearances/oral and written testimonies and evidences from the two parties to the matter — Senators Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio respectively.”
She advised that the findings of the committee should be referred to the attorney-general of the federation for action.
“The senate in plenary receives the report findings and recommendations of the ethics committee, debates and refers the matter to the attorney general as may be appropriate,” she added.
“The senate and HoR partner with women in Nigeria groups and other relevant stakeholders like NBA and Nigeria police to launch a comprehensive diagnostic review of laws, regulations, policies and procedures that prevent SGBV and protect the rights of women in public and private spaces, identify existing barriers and gaps, develop and implement specific action plan on a fast track timeline.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.