Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday welcomed the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance at the State House in Abuja, reaffirming her commitment to supporting women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
The visit, announced by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her official X handle, was led by Alliance Chairperson Anna Nesterova alongside senior executives and academics. The team expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in areas including pharmaceuticals, film co-production, labour mobility, financial literacy, and AI-driven healthcare.
Senator Tinubu highlighted her humanitarian efforts through the Renewed Hope Initiative, while stressing 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 said.
Nesterova described 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 also announced plans to establish a BRICS Women’s Business Alliance regional office in Nigeria to connect local entrepreneurs with international markets.
During the visit, the Alliance donated 1,000 labour and delivery kits to support maternal health initiatives. Officials further revealed that the Alliance’s Common Digital Platform currently connects over 3,000 businesswomen across 60 countries, with 50 Nigerian women participating in last year’s BRICS Women’s Startups Contest.
The Russian delegation included Liudmila Shcherbakova (VET PHARM Group), Natalia Vershinina (United Migration Center), Prof. Liudmila Popova (Orel State University), and Anna Meshcheryakova (Third Opinion AI). A technical session at the State House Banquet Hall focused on strengthening bilateral ties and fostering investment opportunities in line with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda on foreign policy, partnerships, and economic diversification.
What you should know
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s meeting with the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance marks a new step in Nigeria–Russia relations, with commitments to women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and bilateral trade.
The Alliance’s plan to set up a regional office in Nigeria could open international market access for Nigerian women while boosting cooperation in critical sectors like healthcare, migration, and technology.
