Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday received the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance at the State House, Abuja, declaring Nigeria a fertile ground for global partnerships and a dependable ally of the BRICS bloc.
Welcoming the delegation led by the Alliance’s Chairperson, Anna Nesterova, the First Lady described Nigeria as “a very interesting place that you will find rewarding for partnerships.”
She assured the visitors of her office’s support for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, while stressing that government ministries remained the statutory drivers of concrete economic engagements.
“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.
Mrs Tinubu highlighted her humanitarian work through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), citing investments in education, women and children, including a fundraising project for a national library and an upcoming distribution of sanitary kits to schoolgirls in Gombe State.
In her remarks, Nesterova praised 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 disclosed plans to open a regional BRICS office in Nigeria to boost women’s entrepreneurship, and announced the donation of 1,000 labour and delivery kits to support maternal health.
“Our Common Digital Platform connects more than 3,000 businesswomen from 60 countries, and last year the BRICS Women’s Startups Contest attracted 50 applications from Nigeria alone,” she noted.
The Russian delegation included Ms. Liudmila Shcherbakova of VET PHARM Group, Ms. Natalia Vershinina of United Migration Center, Prof. Liudmila Popova of Orel State University, and Ms. Anna Meshcheryakova of Third Opinion AI. They signaled readiness to partner in pharmaceuticals, labour mobility, financial literacy, and AI-driven healthcare solutions.
Following the courtesy call, the visitors attended a technical session at the State House Banquet Hall on “Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Exploring Investment Opportunities between Nigeria and Russia.”
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the engagement as a new chapter in Nigeria–Russia relations, stressing that cooperation must yield “actionable frameworks, joint ventures, and enduring networks between Nigerian and Russian women entrepreneurs.”
Also speaking, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said Nigerian women account for over 40 percent of small and medium enterprises and nearly 39 percent of registered exporters. She argued that Nigeria’s entrepreneurial strength, combined with Russia’s technological expertise, could drive collaboration in agriculture, food security, mining, energy, the digital economy, and healthcare.
She added that Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) positions the country as a gateway to a $3 trillion market of 1.3 billion people.
Other speakers, including the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulieman-Ibrahim, and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, underscored the role of women and youth in driving inclusive growth and innovation.
