Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has received the traditional title of ‘Jagaban Matan Zamfara’ from the Zamfara State Council of Emirs, adding another traditional honour to the recognition she has received from communities across the country.
The conferment took place on Friday, November 13, 2026, during her visit to Gusau, the state capital, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-West Women’s Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme.
The traditional rulers presented the honour during a courtesy visit by the First Lady to the state’s emirs at the Grand Chamber of the Zamfara State Government House. The ceremony attracted traditional rulers from across the state, political office holders and other dignitaries.
The title, which translates to ‘Leader of the Women of Zamfara’, recognises her contributions to women’s empowerment, girl-child education and humanitarian services, according to an account of the ceremony by Radio Nigeria Kaduna.
The Chairman of the Zamfara State Council of Chiefs and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, reportedly highlighted her commitment to improving the welfare of women, children and other vulnerable members of society.
The honour also brings a cultural dimension to the First Lady’s visit, which combined engagement with traditional institutions, political mobilisation and activities focused on women’s empowerment.
Zamfara Emirs Recognise First Lady’s Contributions
The decision to confer the title on Oluremi Tinubu reflects the traditional institution’s recognition of her public engagements and initiatives directed at women and vulnerable groups.
According to Radio Nigeria Kaduna, the Emir of Anka acknowledged her contributions to national unity and development, particularly through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which promotes the economic empowerment and social advancement of women and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The initiative has provided a platform for interventions focused on livelihoods, education, healthcare and support for disadvantaged households.
Through her role as First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has also participated in programmes designed to improve opportunities for women and encourage greater attention to the needs of children and vulnerable communities.
For the Zamfara traditional institution, the title represents an expression of recognition for these activities and the broader importance of supporting women’s development.
Traditional titles also carry cultural significance within their communities. Beyond the ceremony itself, they can represent expectations of service, responsibility and continued engagement with the people and institutions that confer them.
The First Lady’s latest honour therefore adds to the growing list of traditional recognitions she has received during her public engagements across Nigeria.
Turbaning Ceremony Held During Visit to Gusau
The conferment took place as part of Oluremi Tinubu’s visit to Zamfara for the APC North-West Women’s Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme.
She arrived in Gusau alongside the wife of the Vice-President, Nana Shettima; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim; and wives of governors from the region.
The courtesy visit to the traditional rulers provided an opportunity for the First Lady to engage with the state’s established traditional institutions before attending the political gathering.
The ceremony at the Grand Chamber of the Zamfara State Government House brought together the state’s emirs, who participated in the traditional turbaning rites.
The involvement of the traditional rulers underscored the importance of the emirate institutions in Zamfara’s cultural and social life.
Traditional authorities continue to play roles in community engagement, social development and the promotion of peaceful coexistence. Their influence also makes interactions between public office holders and traditional institutions an important feature of official visits to many Nigerian states.
For Oluremi Tinubu, the occasion provided an opportunity to receive the recognition of Zamfara’s traditional leadership while engaging with women and political stakeholders during the wider visit.
First Lady Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Welfare
During her appearance at the Gusau Trade Fair Complex, where the APC held its North-West Women’s Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme, the First Lady commended the party’s women-focused empowerment activities.
She also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians through interventions in education, healthcare and other critical sectors.
Her remarks aligned with the broader objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which has focused on programmes intended to improve the economic and social conditions of women and vulnerable groups.
The First Lady also expressed sympathy with residents of Zamfara over the insecurity affecting parts of the state, particularly deaths resulting from banditry and kidnappings.
Her comments brought attention to the difficult circumstances facing many communities in the North-West, where insecurity has disrupted livelihoods, affected access to education and healthcare, and forced families to seek safety elsewhere.
The situation has made humanitarian assistance, economic empowerment and community support important considerations in the region’s development agenda.
For women in particular, insecurity can deepen existing economic challenges by limiting access to markets, disrupting small businesses and increasing the responsibilities associated with caring for displaced or vulnerable family members.
Consequently, empowerment programmes need to consider not only access to equipment and financial support but also the security and economic conditions required for beneficiaries to sustain their activities.
Empowerment Items Distributed to Women
As part of the activities during the visit, Oluremi Tinubu flagged off the distribution of empowerment items to beneficiaries.
The items included sewing machines, refrigerators, grinding machines, point-of-sale (POS) machines and motorcycles.
The equipment is intended to support different categories of small businesses and income-generating activities.
For example, sewing machines can help women engaged in tailoring and garment production improve their capacity to serve customers. Grinding machines can support food processing and other small-scale enterprises, while refrigerators can assist businesses that require cold storage.
POS machines can also help entrepreneurs provide payment services and improve access to financial transactions within their communities. Motorcycles, meanwhile, can support mobility and the delivery of goods and services.
Such interventions can provide useful tools for women seeking to establish or expand small businesses. However, their long-term impact will depend on beneficiaries’ ability to use the equipment effectively, access customers, obtain working capital and operate in a supportive business environment.
Training, business advisory services and follow-up support can also help ensure that the items contribute to sustainable income generation rather than serving as one-time distributions.
Traditional Recognition Adds to Remi Tinubu’s National Honours
The ‘Jagaban Matan Zamfara’ title adds to the traditional honours Oluremi Tinubu has received from different communities during her public engagements.
In February 2026, she received the title of Utukpa-Oritse, also known as Ugbone, from the Warri Kingdom in Delta State.
In June, she was honoured in Enugu State with the title Ugosimba I, meaning ‘Jewel of Empowerment’. She subsequently received the title Oso Di Eme I in Imo State in September, followed by the Ugoeze of Anambra title during her visit to Anambra State.
These recognitions reflect the role traditional institutions play in acknowledging public figures and individuals they consider to have made contributions to their communities or areas of public interest.
However, each title carries its own cultural meaning and institutional context. The Zamfara honour is particularly associated with the state’s women, as reflected in the translation of ‘Jagaban Matan Zamfara’.
The recognition also provides an opportunity to draw attention to women’s development, education, economic participation and humanitarian support as important areas of public engagement.
Political Mobilisation and Traditional Institutions
The First Lady’s visit also took place within the context of the APC’s ongoing mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The North-West Women’s Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme formed part of the party’s efforts to strengthen engagement with women and grassroots political structures across the region.
The event brought together political leaders, women groups, supporters and other stakeholders.
Although the traditional title was conferred during a courtesy visit to the emirs, the timing placed the honour alongside a broader programme involving political mobilisation and empowerment activities.
The distinction between the traditional ceremony and the party’s political activities is important. The title was conferred by the Zamfara State Council of Emirs, while the rally was organised as part of the APC’s political engagement.
The occasion therefore combined cultural recognition with a political gathering, highlighting the different roles played by traditional institutions and political organisations during public visits.
Conclusion
The conferment of the ‘Jagaban Matan Zamfara’ title on Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, marks another traditional recognition of her public engagements and contributions to women’s empowerment and humanitarian initiatives.
Presented by the Zamfara State Council of Emirs during her visit to Gusau on November 13, 2026, the honour also highlights the cultural importance of traditional institutions in recognising individuals associated with social development and public service.
Her visit included the APC North-West Women’s Mega Rally, renewed emphasis on education and healthcare, expressions of sympathy over insecurity and the distribution of empowerment equipment to women.
Ultimately, the significance of the recognition will extend beyond the turbaning ceremony if it encourages sustained attention to the welfare, economic opportunities and development needs of women across Zamfara State.
As the First Lady continues her engagement with communities and traditional institutions across Nigeria, the title serves as a reminder of the expectations that accompany public recognition: continued service, meaningful engagement and practical contributions to the lives of the people.
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