Young Moms Support Initiative CEO, Vivian Lauds Tinubu on NELFUND, ASUU Stability

...Dr. Vivian Sonny-Nsirim says the President's education reforms have expanded access to higher education for vulnerable families, while urging Nigerians to remain patient as broader government policies take effect.

By Genesis ogiri 

ABUJA — The Chief Executive Officer of the Young Moms Support Initiative, Dr. Vivian Sonny-Nsirim, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration for what she described as transformative reforms in the education sector, particularly the implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying the initiative has restored hope to thousands of Nigerian families struggling to finance tertiary education.

Dr. Sonny-Nsirim, who also holds the traditional titles of Ugochinyere I of Igbo Land and Madubia of Uke Kingdom, said the student loan scheme has significantly reduced the financial burden on parents, especially widows and other vulnerable households, enabling many students to remain in universities despite prevailing economic challenges.

She also praised the administration for maintaining relative industrial peace in the nation's public universities, noting that the absence of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has ensured uninterrupted academic activities and restored confidence in the country's higher education system.

According to her, the combination of uninterrupted academic calendars and easier access to educational funding reflects the Federal Government's commitment to investing in Nigeria's human capital and securing a better future for the nation's youth.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Progressive Women Empowerment Group programme convened by Ambassador Mamunat Hassan Ahmed in Abuja, Dr. Sonny-Nsirim urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the current administration's economic reforms, stressing that sustainable national development cannot be achieved overnight.

She likened the implementation of government policies to the process of pregnancy, explaining that just as a child requires nine months of development before birth, meaningful reforms also require time before their full benefits become visible.

"Many of the policies introduced by this administration are long-term interventions. Nigerians should remain hopeful and patient because the positive impact will become more evident with time. We must give these reforms the opportunity to mature," she said.

Dr. Sonny-Nsirim also lauded Ambassador Mamunat Hassan Ahmed for convening the women empowerment programme, describing it as a strategic platform for promoting women's economic inclusion, leadership and self-reliance. She said initiatives that equip women with practical skills contribute directly to national development by strengthening families and communities.

The women empowerment advocate maintained that genuine empowerment begins with the mind, stressing that a transformed mindset is the foundation for economic independence, leadership and sustainable development.

"Empowerment is about changing the way women think about themselves and their potential. Once the mind is empowered, a woman can create opportunities, build businesses, support her family and make meaningful contributions to society. Real empowerment starts from within," she said.

She reaffirmed her commitment to advancing women empowerment and inclusive governance, calling on governments, private organisations and development partners to sustain investments in programmes that enhance women's participation in economic and public life, noting that empowering women remains one of the most effective pathways to achieving sustainable national development.

The event climaxed with the inauguration of state coordinators of the Progressive Women Empowerment Group by the Convener, Ambassador Mamunat Hassan Ahmed, who charged the newly appointed officials to deepen grassroots mobilization, promote women's participation in governance and champion empowerment initiatives in support of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. She expressed confidence that the coordinators would strengthen the group's structures nationwide and drive inclusive development across their respective states.