Since assuming office as the First Lady of Kogi State, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo has become a beacon of compassion, inclusion, and empowerment especially for women, girls, widows, youth, and the less privileged. Her passion for service resonates across communities, bringing hope to the hopeless and giving a voice to the voiceless.
With a heart firmly rooted in humanitarianism, the wife of the Kogi State Governor has committed herself to uplifting every segment of society supporting women in politics, widows in distress, children in orphanages, pregnant women in hospitals, persons with disabilities (PWDs), youth seeking career growth, as well as market women and struggling traders.
Aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo has domesticated those ideals, delivering life-changing interventions within Kogi State. Through collaborative efforts, she has amplified women’s voices and launched impactful programs that uphold dignity and promote economic independence.
Her efforts have manifested through the distribution of palliatives to thousands of indigent women, support for orphans and vulnerable children, and expanded access to reproductive health services for pregnant women. These acts reflect a seamless synergy between national aspirations and state-level priorities in building a more inclusive society.
One of Her Excellency’s most remarkable traits is her open-door policy. She listens, she welcomes, and most importantly, she acts. Her office remains accessible to women’s groups, community leaders, and youth with innovative ideas. This approach has enabled real-time problem-solving and strengthened public trust in the Office of the First Lady.
Through her forthcoming flagship initiative, the Ohunene Empowerment Foundation, Hajiya Ododo is set to further consolidate her impact in the areas of health, education, economic empowerment, and anti-drug sensitisation. Even ahead of its formal launch, the Foundation has already begun making a tangible difference across the state.
Currently, a health awareness campaign under the Ohunene Foundation is traversing Kogi State’s three senatorial districts. Focused on drug abuse prevention, the initiative targets youths, students, and parents delivering crucial messages on the dangers of substance abuse and its implications for personal and societal well-being.
The campaign has been well-received by schools, youth organizations, and religious institutions. Through health walks and interactive community engagements, thousands of young people are being educated and inspired to make healthier life choices.
Hajiya Sefinat Ododo has also led outreach initiatives benefiting persons with disabilities. In several towns and rural communities, she has distributed wheelchairs, walking aids, food items, and financial support reaffirming her unwavering commitment to inclusivity.
Across hospitals in Kogi State, the First Lady has provided delivery kits, diapers, baby care items, and cash assistance to pregnant women and new mothers. Her hospital visits are always heartfelt, leaving trails of joy, gratitude, and renewed hope.
Widows often marginalized and forgotten have found a compassionate supporter in Her Excellency. She has distributed food items, clothing materials, and financial support to hundreds of widows across the state, helping them navigate life with renewed dignity and resilience.
Children, especially those in orphanages and shelters, are not left out. The First Lady regularly visits homes for motherless children, bringing gifts, food, clothing, and educational materials. Her connection with these children reflects her deep maternal instinct and conviction that every child deserves love, care, and opportunity.
In a bold move to secure a future for vulnerable children, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo has placed many on educational scholarships ensuring no child is denied access to learning due to financial hardship. This intervention is rewriting destinies.
Market women the backbone of Kogi’s informal economy have also been embraced by Her Excellency’s generous interventions. Across all 21 Local Government Areas, thousands have received cash support, bags of rice, and clothing to help stabilize their businesses and families.
These women have expressed heartfelt gratitude for the First Lady’s support, stating that the interventions have cushioned economic hardship and helped stabilize their livelihoods. Her attention to grassroots women highlights her deep understanding of the informal economy’s role in local development.
Women farmers, too, have benefited from agricultural empowerment initiatives. In a recent drive, thousands received chickens, poultry feed, cassava stems, improved seedlings, and fertilizers boosting food security and rural self-sufficiency. This program has now reached all 21 LGAs and encourages participation from women, youth, and students in sustainable agriculture.
Students and teachers in public schools have also been impacted by capacity-building programs. Through strategic partnerships, Her Excellency has promoted digital literacy, hygiene education, and increased access to school supplies.
Her initiatives continue to expand access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities particularly for adolescent girls and young women. Her mentorship and safe-space programs are nurturing a new generation of confident, self-aware, and empowered girls.
The First Lady is a staunch advocate for the rights of the girl-child, frequently using her platform to speak out against early marriage, sexual abuse, and gender-based violence. Her consistent advocacy is sparking conversations, influencing policy, and driving social change.
Through regular town hall meetings, she engages directly with women and community stakeholders to understand their concerns and co-create practical solutions. This inclusive approach fosters shared ownership and sustainable development.
She has also supported the formation of women’s cooperatives across the state, providing microloans, agricultural inputs, and financial literacy training.
Importantly, Her Excellency’s efforts go beyond charity they are strategic, people-centered, and aligned with long-term development goals. Her focus on sustainability, impact, and accountability is reshaping the role of First Lady as one of leadership and legacy.
Her compassion extends to crucial areas like family planning, child nutrition, and mental health particularly where these intersect with rising substance abuse among youth. Through mobile clinics and outreach efforts, remote communities are now receiving life-saving health services.
Another pillar of her work is religious harmony. She regularly engages Christian and Muslim women leaders in joint advocacy efforts, fostering peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
Despite her accomplishments, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo remains grounded in faith and humility. She executes monumental programs with quiet grace, always attributing her strength and vision to God.
As the Ohunene Empower ment Foundation prepares for its official launch, optimism abounds that it will become a transformative platform for social change in Kogi State empowering thousands through initiatives in health, education, agriculture, and digital skills.
The story of Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo, wife of the Kogi State Governor, is one of silent strength, gentle courage, and boundless compassion. Her presence in the corridors of power is defined not by noise, but by nurturing raising others, empowering the vulnerable, and kindling hope where there once was none.
She is more than the First Lady; she is a mother to all with arms wide enough to carry the burdens of many, and a heart big enough to love without limits.
With unwavering gratitude to God and an enduring commitment to serve, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo continues to chart a path of impact, legacy, and inspiration for generations to come.
Janet Ovayoza Samuel
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media.
Office of the First Lady, Kogi State
