The empowerment programme, held on Saturday at Watt Market in Calabar, was organised through the Women Mobilisation Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Market women and petty traders play a significant role in Nigeria’s informal economy, particularly in the retail and distribution of food, household goods and other essential commodities. However, many operate small businesses with limited working capital and depend largely on personal savings, informal contributions and loans from family and friends to sustain their trade.
A 2024 report by Women’s World Banking, citing International Finance Corporation data, estimated that women account for about 70 per cent of trading in Nigerian markets. Despite their contribution to economic activities, access to affordable finance remains a major challenge for many women entrepreneurs.
The First Lady was represented at the event by the Deputy Director of the directorate and former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Edu said the programme was organised at the instance of the First Lady, who is leading women’s mobilisation across the country.
According to her, Tinubu sent the team to Calabar to engage market women, artisans and petty traders and provide them with seed capital to expand their businesses.
She said, “We are not here on our own. We are here on the directive of the wife of Mr President and our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is leading women’s mobilisation across the country. We are here to support you to grow and expand your businesses with N50,000 cash support and other gift items for 500 market women.
“We have not come empty-handed. We have come with different categories of empowerment. You saw people leave here today with deep freezers, blenders and toasters. And you saw people who will leave with different amounts of money.”
She explained that many of the traders operated with limited capital, with some having goods worth between N5,000 and N10,000 on their trays, adding that the N50,000 support would help them expand their businesses.
She also used the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the Tinubu administration, including the Students Loan Scheme, free maternal healthcare for pregnant women, subsidised dialysis and other social interventions targeting women and vulnerable groups.
Edu disclosed that the Calabar outreach was the first phase of the programme in the state, adding that similar exercises had been scheduled for Ogoja in November or December and the northern senatorial district in January 2027.
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