In line with the goals of the Renewed Hope Initiatives of the Federal Government to improve healthcare delivery in the country and touch the lives of the vulnerable persons in the society, wife of the Nigeria’s President,Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Monday, flagged – off the distribution of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the Southeast States, namely Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, with Enugu State.
Speaking at the event held at the International Conference Centre(ICC) Enugu, the president’s wife said the gesture was to complement the ongoing federal government re-training exercise for 120,000 frontline health workers across the country.
According to her 60,470 health workers had completed their training and the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, had procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs as an incentive to encourage education.
Senator Tinubu disclosed that since the initial launch in January 2025, they had distributed 50,000 scrubs, 50,000 pairs of scrubs, crocs to five geopolitical zones, namely North Central, North East, North West, South South and the Southwest and the distribution of the remaining 10,000, each of the crocs and scrubs in the South East completed the phase.
She said the donation was possible through the general support of an Anonymous Global Partner, dedicated to achieving health outcomes for the citizens.
“The donor is committed to supporting the Organization of African First Ladies for Development and the health sector in Nigeria and across the world with a specific focus on reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.” ,she said.
Mrs Tinubu announced that she was going to launch the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign for HIV, AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in Enugu on Tuesday.
The initiative according to her , aims to promote healthier mothers, reduce new HIV infections amongst mothers of reproductive age, eliminate mothers through child transmission of HIV, AIDS, which is the vertical transmission, and provide treatment for children born with HIV.
The first lady presented an additional grant of N50 million to the First Lady of Enugu State with a sum of N50,000 each to support 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State, to recapitalize their existing businesses,
In his speech, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, commended Mrs. Tinubu’s efforts, stressing that the empowerment of the midwives represented sanitation, professionalism, respect, and renewed public trust in the nation’s healthcare institutions.
He said the state was ramping up the training of health workers to address the brain drain in the health sector.
“In response to the brain drain that has strained our healthcare workforce, we have taken decisive steps. Key among these is the successful elevation of our School of Nursing to collegiate status.
“This means the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences, with four campuses, has the capacity to graduate 3,000 nurses annually. This is not just a statistic. It is a strategy — a bold stride towards rebuilding the backbone of our healthcare system,” he stated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the wife of Enugu state Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah commended the wife of the President, Mrs Tinubu for her selfless commitment to building an inclusive society, especially in the healthcare sector, as exemplified through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Applauding the Renewed Hope Initiative, Mrs Mbah said, “This initiative has significantly impacted countless lives across our nation’s diverse geopolitical zones. Your noble endeavour has brought succour and hope to communities that have long yearned for such intervention. Here in Enugu State, we are profoundly grateful for the transformative outcomes of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“Midwives are at the front lines of maternal and child health. Empowering these important healthcare workers is crucial to the push to reduce maternal and under-5 mortality rates radically.
“The distribution of 10,000 professional kits—comprising Scrubs and Crocs—to our dedicated midwives across every zone is a significant boost to strengthening our healthcare system.This thoughtful gesture is a powerful affirmation of the value and dignity we place on our healthcare professionals. You haven’t simply voiced your ideals, Ma; you have also put them into action. This is a true reflection of transformative leadership,” she said
The Governor’s wife described the initiative as an investment in human capital; an investment in the future of Enugu State and the future of the country .
She noted that the gesture will integrate a robust midwife workforce which can prevent up to 41% of maternal deaths, 39% of neonatal deaths, and 26% of stillbirths globally.
Mrs Mbah said Enugu State already has a comprehensive Strategic Health Development Plan focused on leadership, service delivery, human resources, health financing, and community engagement.
“By aligning the Renewed Hope Initiative’s activities—such as medical outreaches and resource distribution—with these strategic thrusts, we can ensure that RHI health interventions address local needs and reinforce established frameworks.
” The focus on rural and vulnerable communities directly supports our aim for equitable healthcare access in Enugu.The Renewed Hope Initiative serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders—government, private sector, and civil society—to actively pursue sustainable development. It underscores the crucial role of collective effort and strategic partnerships in building resilient systems that can navigate challenges and deliver lasting benefits.
“Here in Enugu, we are inspired by your leadership and vision, and we reaffirm our commitment to the success and sustainability of these vital programs”, Mrs Mbah said .
Commending President Bola Tinubu’s visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to nation’s unity, she expressed confidence that under his guidance, Nigeria is on the verge of unprecedented growth and transformation, and in Enugu they are proud to play our part in this national renaissance.”
She thanked her husband governor , the Executive Governor of Enugu state, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his relentless drive and commitment to the well-being of the people.
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