Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu,
has welcomed a high-level delegation from the Russian Women’s Business
Alliance, led by its Chairperson, Anna Nesterova, at the State
House, Abuja.
The visit was confirmed by the Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, via her official X
handle.
The Russian delegation—which included senior
executives and academics—expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in pharmaceuticals,
film co-production, labour mobility, financial literacy, and AI-driven
healthcare.
In her remarks, Senator Tinubu highlighted her
humanitarian efforts through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) but
clarified that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) remain the
primary drivers of government policy.
“My office will continue to provide advocacy and
encouragement, but the ministries have the statutory responsibilities and
budgets to support your mission. My role is to complement, advise, and
facilitate,” she explained.
Nesterova praised the First Lady as “an incredible
woman who not only changes lives for the better but also paves the way for a
prosperous future for the Nigerian people.”
She announced that the Alliance will establish a regional office in Nigeria,
creating a gateway for women entrepreneurs into international markets.
As part of the visit, the Alliance donated 1,000
labour and delivery kits to support maternal health in Nigeria. Nesterova
also disclosed that the Alliance’s Common Digital Platform currently
connects over 3,000 businesswomen from 60 countries, noting that 50
Nigerian women applied for the BRICS Women’s Startups Contest in 2024 alone.
The delegation featured:
A technical session held at the State House Banquet
Hall focused on strengthening Nigeria–Russia bilateral ties and
exploring investment opportunities.
Officials noted that the engagement represents “a
new chapter in Nigeria–Russia relations,” aligning with the Renewed Hope
Agenda on foreign policy, partnerships, and economic diversification.
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