Yamoussoukro: First Lady Dominique Ouattara make donations worth over 500 million CFA francs to women

During the presidential couple’s visit to Yamoussoukro, First Lady Dominique Ouattara once again showed her deep commitment to women’s empowerment. On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, she made significant food and non-food items donations , with a total estimated value of over 500 million CFA francs, to women in the Autonomous District of Yamoussoukro.

The handover ceremony, presided over by Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, witnessed the presence of  political, administrative, and traditional authorities, as well as an enthusiastic crowd who came to honour this gesture of broad social significance.

The donations consisted of materials and equipment for various trades, including farmers, shopkeepers, hairdressers, chef, and seamstresses, to enable them to strengthen their income-generating activities. In addition, the First Lady also donated medical supplies and equipment to improve the technical facilities of the district’s health centers.

In the same spirit of solidarity, eight ambulances were donated to various health centers in the region, along with cash donations totaling eight million CFA francs for the benefit of the women and communities present.

Through this action, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara reaffirms her determination to support women in their quest for economic independence and to effectively combat poverty among the population.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade and Industry, praised the First Lady’s generosity and consistency in her support for the women of Côte d’Ivoire. He recalled the importance of her many social initiatives and invited the women of the District to continue the development work under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, RHDP candidate in the presidential election of October 25, 2025.

Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie, representing the First Lady, expressed all the love and support of Mrs. Dominique Ouattara to her sisters in Yamoussoukro. She recalled the exceptional career of the First Lady, who has been involved in humanitarian work since 1998 with the creation of the Children Of Africa Foundation, well before her husband’s accession to the highest office. This commitment has enabled the completion of major projects such as the Mother and Child Hospital in Bingerville, the Children of Africa School Group in Abobo, and the Safe Home for Women in Adiaké. “The First Lady is driven by exceptional generosity. She knows she can count on you, because women have always known how to make the right choice,” said Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie, adding that these donations will be distributed without consideration of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.

On behalf of all the women of the Lakes District, Ms. Yoboué Fanta, spokesperson for the beneficiaries, expressed her deep gratitude to the First Lady for her ongoing commitment and actions on behalf of vulnerable populations.

As a token of their appreciation, the people of Yamoussoukro also offered food and symbolic gifts to the presidential couple.