First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Visits Oba of Benin, Commissions CNG Buses and Flags Off Empowerment Programme

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has visited the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in Benin City, Edo State, as part of a one-day working visit during which she commissioned 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and flagged off a ₦1 billion empowerment programme for 5,000 beneficiaries. The activities took place on Thursday, October 15, 2026.  

During her visit to the palace, the First Lady commended traditional institutions for their role in promoting peace, unity and community development. She highlighted the interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which focuses on agriculture, education, healthcare, economic empowerment and social investment to support vulnerable Nigerians.  

The Oba of Benin commended Mrs Tinubu for her efforts towards improving the welfare of women and children. He called for stronger collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Oba Ewuare II Foundation to expand programmes supporting women, children, young people and vulnerable groups. The monarch also honoured the First Lady with the traditional Benin royal beads known as Ikele, as a symbol of goodwill and appreciation.  

Following the palace visit, Mrs Tinubu commissioned 50 CNG-powered buses procured by the Edo State Government. The buses are expected to improve public transportation, make commuting more affordable and accessible, and create employment opportunities for drivers, technicians, mechanics and other skilled workers. She urged the state government to prioritise training and capacity-building programmes to help young people benefit from opportunities in the CNG transportation sector.  

The First Lady also flagged off the state government’s ₦1 billion empowerment programme for 5,000 beneficiaries. Under the initiative, each beneficiary is expected to receive ₦200,000 to support small businesses, strengthen livelihoods and promote financial independence, particularly among women, young people and vulnerable residents.  

The initiatives form part of the Edo State Government’s efforts to improve transportation and expand economic opportunities. The visit also underscored the potential role of partnerships between government and traditional institutions in advancing public health awareness, education and social welfare programmes across communities.