Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday received the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance at the State House in Abuja, pledging her continued support for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
The visit was confirmed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, through her official X handle.
Led by the Chairperson of the Alliance, Anna Nesterova, the delegation comprised senior executives and academics who expressed readiness to partner with Nigeria in areas such as pharmaceuticals, film co-production, labour mobility, financial literacy, and AI-powered healthcare. Channels TV
Welcoming the team, Senator Tinubu spoke about her humanitarian work through the Renewed Hope Initiative and clarified that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) remain the key drivers of government policy and programmes.
“My office will continue to provide advocacy and encouragement, but the ministries have the statutory responsibilities and budgets to support your mission. I do a lot of programmes through my foundation, but when it comes to women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, the ministries are the right partners. My role is to complement, advise, and facilitate,” she explained.
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In her remarks, Nesterova commended 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 revealed plans by the Alliance to set up a regional office in Nigeria, which will serve as a gateway for women entrepreneurs seeking access to international markets.
The BRICS Women’s Alliance also donated 1,000 labour and delivery kits to support maternal health efforts in Nigeria.
Officials noted that the engagement represents a new phase in Nigeria–Russia relations, focusing on actionable partnerships and economic cooperation aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nesterova further mentioned that the Alliance’s Common Digital Platform now connects more than 3,000 businesswomen from 60 countries and that, in the previous year, 50 Nigerian women applied for the BRICS Women’s Startups Contest.
Members of the Russian delegation included Liudmila Shcherbakova of VET PHARM Group, Natalia Vershinina of United Migration Center, Prof. Liudmila Popova of Orel State University, and Anna Meshcheryakova of Third Opinion AI.
A technical session held at the State House Banquet Hall explored new opportunities for investment and collaboration between Nigeria and Russia, reinforcing both nations’ commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
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Image Credit: RadioNow 95.3F
