UN, Nigeria's First Lady Roll Out Empowerment Programme for Vulnerable Women

Nigeria's First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has partnered with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to roll out an economic empowerment initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable women nationwide.

The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday in Imo State, is designed to help vulnerable women build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their resilience against economic and social pressures.

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, announced the development on Wednesday in New York, describing Mohammed's engagements in Imo as part of the UN's continuing cooperation with Nigeria in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.

"Today in Imo State, she joined the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to launch a nationwide programme on women's economic empowerment," Dujarric said, adding that the initiative would specifically target women in need of greater economic opportunities and support to improve their livelihoods. "It will support vulnerable women across the country to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen resilience," he said.

The programme places women's economic participation at the heart of broader efforts to strengthen households, reduce vulnerability, and promote more inclusive economic development. It also aligns with the UN's wider advocacy for women to participate fully in economic and development processes, rather than remain disproportionately affected by poverty and economic exclusion.

Mohammed, who also chairs the UN Sustainable Development Group, has consistently championed inclusive development that ensures women, young people, and vulnerable communities are not left behind.

According to Dujarric, the Deputy Secretary-General also held discussions with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and other senior government officials during her visit. She additionally toured a UN Development Programme (UNDP)-supported project at Imo Digital City, an innovation and technology hub in Owerri. "She visited a UNDP project in Imo Digital City, which supports efforts to expand digital skills and innovation and job opportunities," he said.

The Imo State Government and UNDP have recently deepened cooperation around digital skills development, innovation, technology-driven enterprises, and employment creation. Similarly, UNDP and the Federal Government have been expanding University Innovation Pods (UniPods) to connect young people, research institutions, industry, and technological innovation with economic opportunities. Nigeria began its nationwide UniPod rollout in April, with UNDP describing the initiative as part of broader efforts to convert talent and research into commercially viable innovation and jobs.

Mohammed's engagements in Imo — spanning both women's economic inclusion and opportunity creation through technology and innovation — reflect two development priorities increasingly emphasised by the UN. Her visit to the state formed part of a wider official trip to Nigeria focused on development priorities and cooperation between the UN, federal government, and sub-national authorities.

The visit follows earlier engagements in Ogun State, where Mohammed examined development initiatives and discussed economic opportunities, skills development, and women's empowerment with state authorities.