Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady and wife of President Bola Tinubu, has urged market women to work on hike in prices of goods and services, just as she commissioned the reconstructed runway of the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State.
The runway, constructed by the previous administration on concrete pavement, has been assessed as unfit for flight operations.
This necessitated the award of a contract for its total excavation and reconstruction by Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration.
The First Lady, while cutting the inauguration tape, described the runway as one of the best she has seen in the country and commended the governor for his vision and commitment to the development of the state.
Commissioning the runway was part of the functions performed by the President’s wife during her one-day official visit to Ebonyi State on Friday.
She was in the state as the special guest of honour at the grand finale of the 2024 Ebonyi State women celebration on the invitation of the governor’s wife.
The First Lady, who landed at the airport a few minutes past 3pm, performed the commissioning ceremony before proceeding to Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, where she met with Ebonyi women.
Speaking at the stadium, Senator Tinubu appealed to market women to avoid arbitrary increases in prices of goods as Christians prepare for the 2024 Christmas celebration.
She called on all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the forthcoming celebration to revive the culture of brotherliness and fellow feeling which the country is known for.
She said: “Christmas is coming, and we want to beg you all our women traders in the market to try to bring your prices down.
“As Nigerians, we are known for hospitality and we are good people, and I don’t know why somebody will be looking for the government to give him a bag of rice whereas we can always help each other.
“That’s the generation I grew from; we are always our brothers’ keeper.
“We can still bring back that energy.”
The President’s wife commended Ebonyi State women for their ardour, love and uncommon resilience, which is evident in the beauty, peace and industry seen in the state.
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Tinubu added: “From what I have seen in Ebonyi today, there is hope for this nation.”
While commending Governor Nwifuru and his wife, Mary-Maudline, for their many positive responses to the needs of Ebonyi people, she appreciated the people of the state for their support to President Tinubu.
Describing Nwifuru as a “He for She Governor”, she applauded him for giving a large number of women opportunities in elective and appointive positions in the state, and urged the women to continue to reciprocate the gesture by contributing their best for the growth of the state.
Welcoming the President’s wife, Governor Nwifuru and his wife described her first ever visit to the state as a great honour to the people, especially the women who have been eager to meet with her.
Nwifuru appreciated the First Lady and her husband for all their efforts towards uplifting the status of Nigerian women.
He said: “For the few months you came into office, your contribution and support to our women as the wife of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is what we cannot just stand to quantify.
“It has very much exceeded our expectations, and we are very much grateful to you.”
Tinubu during the visit held a close door meeting with some key stakeholders in the state, including traditional rulers.
She also flagged-off Governor Nwifuru’s N1 million business empowerment grant to 130 persons across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The First Lady was accompanied on the visit by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas; Wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Safia Barau; and wife of Chief of Staff to the President, among others.
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