Dr Ogechi Lokpobiri, wife of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has called on Nigerian women and health professionals to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Lokpobiri, who is the National Coordinator of the Tinubu Health Sector Practitioners Alliance (TIHSEPA), made the appeal in Abuja on Friday, urging Nigerians to support the administration’s reform agenda.
She said the policies being implemented by the Tinubu administration were aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy, addressing longstanding structural challenges and strengthening the country’s standing in the global community.
Although she acknowledged that some of the reforms had created short-term difficulties for Nigerians, she maintained that their long-term benefits should be considered in the pursuit of sustainable national development.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated the courage to take difficult decisions in the interest of the country. While reforms may come with challenges, we must also look at their broader objectives and the opportunities they are creating for a stronger and more sustainable Nigeria,” she said.
The TIHSEPA coordinator particularly urged women to take their rightful place in the political process, stressing that their participation would be crucial to determining the country’s future.
According to her, women should mobilise peacefully in support of policies and programmes they believe would improve healthcare delivery, empower families, strengthen social welfare and create more opportunities for Nigerians.
“Women cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. We have a responsibility to participate actively in the affairs of our country and to support policies and programmes that we believe will advance the wellbeing of our families and communities,” she said.
Lokpobiri also praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as an “Icon of Impact” for her interventions targeting women, children and vulnerable Nigerians.
She specifically commended the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative and its programmes in social welfare, healthcare, education and economic empowerment, noting that the interventions complemented the Federal Government’s development agenda.
She said the First Lady’s efforts to address issues affecting women and families demonstrated the importance of inclusive leadership and improved support for vulnerable groups.
On healthcare, Lokpobiri described the sector as a critical pillar of national development, noting that a healthy population was essential for productivity, economic growth and improved living standards.
She called on health professionals nationwide to contribute their expertise to ongoing discussions on healthcare reforms and efforts to build a more accessible and responsive health system.
She said TIHSEPA would continue to mobilise health-sector practitioners and other stakeholders to support national development and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
Lokpobiri further appealed to Nigerians to embrace national unity and give the Tinubu administration the opportunity to consolidate its policies and programmes.
She expressed optimism that sustained implementation of the government’s reform agenda would create greater opportunities for citizens and enhance Nigeria’s position in the international community.
