…As 10 million Nigerian women unite for empowerment, endorse President Tinubu
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside former Labour Minister, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, will lead the National Women Mega Empowerment Rally 2026 on May 5 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Themed “The Power of Ten Million: One Voice, One Movement, One Choice,” the landmark event marks a shift from symbolic participation to structured political and economic power for Nigerian women. It is the first-ever national mobilization of its scale, designed to unite women across all 774 local government areas and 9,410 wards.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the rally, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed that the initiative was birthed from a clear directive by the First Lady.
“At the very onset of this journey, I received a clear and compelling charge from Her Excellency. Our mother said, ‘Go and put money in the hands of women,'” Sulaiman-Ibrahim revealed.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who serves as Special Guest of Honour, has been hailed for bridging policy intent with grassroots realities.
Her office has been central to the push for the Federal Government’s declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim outlined three major outcomes expected from the gathering. First, the 10 million voices will serve as a massive public endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Second, a unified National Women’s Charter of Demands will be presented as a policy guide for governance. Third, the rally will facilitate the creation of women’s collectives across all 9,410 wards for sustained action beyond the event.
Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, a four-term House of Representatives member and former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, brings proven grassroots mobilization strength. Raised in Isuochi, a rural community in Abia State, she has consistently advocated for an intentional partnership between urban and rural women.
Her personal journey of overcoming political opposition gives her unique credibility to urge women to seize the moment and participate actively within party structures.
Beyond political symbolism, the rally will serve as a launchpad for tangible economic interventions.
The Ministry has deployed the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774 (RH-SII 774), a comprehensive framework targeting women in every local government area.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that studies show women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income into their families. “Empowerment of women is not a social gesture; it is an economic imperative. When you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she stated.
The intervention includes grants and microcredit schemes, skills acquisition and vocational training, agricultural value chain support for female farmers, and clean energy access.
To drive cultural engagement, organizers have unveiled a high-profile Entertainment Committee chaired by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu. The committee includes Nollywood heavyweights Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, Joke Silva, and Eniola Badmus.
While the theme celebrates 10 million voices, organizers clarified that the stadium’s physical capacity is 60,000 seats. The event will feature selected delegates from every ward, supported by over 3,000 volunteers, while millions follow online and through decentralized viewing centers.
Organising Committee Chairman Zainab Ibrahim described the rally as “the mother of all rallies,” adding, “This is not just a rally; it is a movement. It will allow women to think, plan and act as one for collective progress.”
With 2026 declared the Year of Families, the National Women Mega Rally is poised to set a new precedent for gender-inclusive governance in Nigeria, marking a decisive shift where women move from participation to power.
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