UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has joined Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to launch an economic empowerment programme targeting vulnerable women.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday in Imo State, is designed to help vulnerable women build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their resilience to economic and social pressures.
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, announced the development on Wednesday in New York.
Dujarric said Mohammed’s engagements in Imo 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 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 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.
UNDP and the Federal Government have similarly been expanding University Innovation Pods to connect young people, research, industry and technological innovation with economic opportunities.
Nigeria began the nationwide UniPod rollout in April, with UNDP describing the initiative as part of efforts to transform talent and research into commercially viable innovation and jobs.
Mohammed’s engagements in Imo, which brought together women’s economic inclusion and the creation of opportunities through technology and innovation, are two development priorities increasingly emphasised by the UN.
The UN deputy chief’s visit to Imo formed part of a wider official visit to Nigeria focusing on development priorities and cooperation between the UN, federal and sub-national governments.
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.
