Nigeria’s First Lady; Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, visited the historic weaving town of Akwete in Ukwa-East Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday (Afor) 21st July, 2026, and graciously announced an intervention fund of Two Billion Naira to Akwete Weaving Co-operative Society. That was unprecedented in the history of the Co-operative Society.
That gesture clearly showed the First Lady as a Leader and Mother who has genuine interest in rural industrialization and poverty alleviation. Whoever was responsible for drawing the attention of the First Lady to the Akwete Weaving Co-operative Society should be commended. If it was, indeed, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State that showcased the Akwete Clothes to the First Lady, it is thumps up to him. More importantly, the First Lady should be appreciated for allowing her interest to be aroused in Akwete Weaving Industry. The same goes to the Governor of Abia State and his wife for according the First Lady a very befitting reception at Akwete. Above all, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, deserves commendation for standing strongly behind his wife.
No matter what any person may say about inflation in Nigeria, the sum of Two Billion Naira, if honestly and transparently managed, should be able to build a modern Weaving Industry for Akwete Weaving Co-operative Society. Any person coming up with a proposal of going to China or anywhere to import Machines for the Industry should, for now, drop such an idea because it will be be the cheapest, easiest and fastest way of scamming the Co-operative Society and, therefore, sabotaging the good intentions of the First Lady.
Rather, Equity Global Reporters Ltd would wish to make the following suggestions;
(1) An honest attempt should be made to ascertain if the Co-operative Society is registered.
(2) Identify Members of the Co-operative Society and, if possible, know if the Society has a Board of Trustees.
(3) Encourage Members of the Co-operative Society to meet once, twice or more, as the case may be, altruistically guided by honest officials from Abia State Ministry of Co-operative or any relevant Ministry, and decide how best, in their view, the Intervention Fund by the First Lady will help revive and modernize their Industry.
(4) If the Society has not been incorporated, they should have it incorporated, electing or choosing Members of her Board of Trustees.
(5) Create a Website that will attract attention to the Co-operative Society and her Industry, and eventually market the products of the Co-operative Society, worldwide.
(6) Avoid going to build an Industrial Complex behind the building currently housing the Co-operative Society because the place is waterlogged and will consume the whole money without making much impact.
(7) By way of saving cost and achieving the goals of the First Lady’s Intervention Fund, buy a house or property in Akwete that has the possibility of expansion, to serve as the industrial complex.
(8) Procure required tools and materials that could enable the Industry take off immediately, without procrastination.
(9) Establish some vital departments for the Industry, such as (a) Production/Maintenance Department, (b) Marketing Department, and (c) Account’s Department.
(10) Employ about Thirty dedicated Weavers, place them on a salary of about N150,000.00 or as may be considered feasible per month, and give them, out of experience and human consideration, the quantity of clothes each has to produce in a month to justify her or his salary.
If the above steps and others deemed necessary could be taken, nothing would stand against the economic objectives of the magnanimous First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, from being actualized.
Individuals, either in Akwete Community or in Government, who think that the First Lady’s generosity is a long- sought opportunity to make cheap money should forget it because all eyes will be on this project.
Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, and Publisher of Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
Monday (Afor) 07-09-2026.
