Rivers Women stage walkout on wife of State Administrator, as Remi Tinubu empowers 500 with business tools

• A stranger’s wife can’t address us; women chant

EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt

Drama played out in Rivers State on Friday as women staged a walkout on Dr. Mrs. Theresa Ibas, wife of the State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, during the Renewed Hope Empowerment Programme billed to empower 500 women in the State.

Daily Champion gathered that the women trooped out of the hall in their numbers when the wife of the Rivers Sole Administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas, climbed the stage to deliver a speech during the event held at EUI Event Centre, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The visibly angry women who had in mind welcoming and receiving the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is the initiator of the empowerment scheme, felt disappointed when they saw the wife of the Sole Administrator climbing the stage to address them.

The women were seen chanting “Wife of a stranger can’t address us, we don’t know her, we want Siminalayi Fubara back, give us Sim. We want Valerie, we want Remi Tinubu to speak to us,”

The protesting women said that they did not understand in what capacity Dr. Mrs. Ibas wants to address them, saying her husband is illegally occupying the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, after declaring a State of Emergency in the State and suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all members of the state House of Assembly.

The event, however, continued as the wife of the Sole Administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas, later addressed the remaining women on behalf of the President’s wife, Senator Tinubu, stating that the initiative is part of a broader national program targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The initiative, aimed at enhancing livelihoods, fostering national development, and boost economic opportunities for women, was carried out by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in partnership with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to First Lady, Senator Tinubu, the scheme has already been completed in the North Central zone, with the Rivers State event marking its conclusion in the South-South region.

She said, “These tools are designed to help our women establish and grow successful businesses, contributing to the nation’s prosperity,” she said. “This program reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development, particularly for women.”

She further highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

She used the medium to call for peace in the state, while underscoring the critical role of peace in achieving lasting development.

Speaking, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, emphasized the need for women to engage in productive ventures amid current economic challenges.

She stated that the program was designed to drive inclusive growth through strategic partnerships while addressing poverty and hunger.

Also, Mrs. Tonye Oniyinde-Briggs, Rivers State Coordinator of RHI, explained that the 500 beneficiaries were selected from all 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

She encouraged the women to utilize the items effectively and either launch new businesses or expand existing ones to maximize the program’s impact.

Beneficiaries of the programme received essential business equipment such as deep freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators.