The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has joined Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to launch an economic empowerment programme targeting vulnerable women.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday in Imo State in Southeastern Nigeria, is designed to help vulnerable women build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their resilience to economic and social pressures.
The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Stéphane Dujarric, who announced the development on Wednesday in New York, said that Mohammed’s engagements in Imo State formed 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.”
The UN spokesperson said that the initiative would specifically target women requiring greater economic opportunities and support to improve their livelihoods.
“It will support vulnerable women across the country to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen resilience,” Dujarric said.
The programme brings women’s economic participation at the centre of efforts to strengthen households, reduce vulnerability and promote more inclusive economic development.
The initiative also aligns with broader UN advocacy for women to participate fully in economic and development processes rather than remain disproportionately affected by poverty and economic exclusion.
Mohammed, who is also Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, has consistently advocated inclusive development in which women, young people and vulnerable communities are not left behind.
Dujarric said that the Deputy Secretary-General also held discussions with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and other senior government officials during the visit.
The UN deputy chief also visited a UN Development Programme-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 intensified cooperation around digital skills, innovation, technology-driven businesses and employment creation.
Mohammed’s latest visit also follows engagements in Ogun, where she examined development initiatives and discussed economic opportunities, skills and women’s empowerment with state authorities.
GIK/APA