The Founder and President of Mama Empowerment Foundation, Rev. Dr. (Mrs) Adenike Victor-Tade, on Saturday declared her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Victor-Tade, popularly known as Mama Empowerment, made the declaration during the first anniversary celebration of the cooperative arm of her foundation, also known as Ultimate Total Life Concepts Initiative, held at the Leo Event Centre, Oloko, Apata, Ibadan.
A former Oyo State governorship candidate under the Advanced Allied Party in the 2019 elections, she said her endorsement of Tinubu was based on what she described as the President’s professional handling of Nigeria’s economy despite prevailing hardships.
Speaking with journalists at the event, she likened the current economic reforms to a necessary surgical procedure.
“Though it is painful, if it is not handled properly, it is like a pregnant woman refusing a Caesarean section because of the pain. Will you allow the baby to die or the mother to die? What President Tinubu is doing is like passing through a CS so that both the mother and the baby can survive,” she said.
She maintained that the economic reforms, though difficult, were laying the groundwork for long-term national recovery.
“People have learned to manage money better under this administration. People are becoming more hardworking and conscious of resources. I believe with Tinubu, Nigeria will go far,” she added.
Victor-Tade also took a swipe at emerging political coalitions seeking to challenge the ruling party in 2027, questioning their antecedents in governance.
“Many of those forming new platforms were part of the old system. When they had the opportunity, what did they achieve? Nigerians must look beyond new names and focus on individuals with the capacity to deliver,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, noting that “that is when we will reap what we have sown in this first term.”
The anniversary event also highlighted the achievements of the foundation’s cooperative scheme, which she said was designed to support low-income earners and small-scale traders.
According to her, members of the cooperative can access interest-free loans within three months of registration, a move she said has empowered petty traders and struggling entrepreneurs across Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
“We give loans without interest. Some beneficiaries are even supported with grants. Many of them you see here today have grown their businesses and are doing well,” she said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Director of Cooperative Services in Oyo State, Mr Adewale Aanuoluwapo Timothy, described cooperatives as voluntary associations of individuals who pool resources together to improve their standard of living.
“What an individual may struggle to achieve alone can be easily achieved when people come together. Cooperatives promote savings culture, capital accumulation and human capacity development,” Timothy said.
He added that cooperative societies also foster peaceful coexistence and provide members with a unified voice capable of influencing policies and attracting support from government and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, foodstuffs and clothing were also distributed to members of the host community as part of relief efforts during the anniversary celebration.
