Tag: African First Ladies

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday played host to spouses of African Heads of State attending the 32nd Annual Meeting of the African Export-Import (AFREXIM) Bank in Abuja, in a cultural reception that blended art, fashion, and continental unity.

Held at the renowned Nike Art Gallery in Abuja, the Spouses Programme drew a distinguished gathering of visiting First Ladies and senior representatives, including the First Ladies of Malawi and Gabon, the wife of the Vice President of Tanzania, and a representative of Egypt.

Welcoming her guests, Senator Tinubu underscored the power of the arts in fostering unity and reinforcing shared identity across Africa.

This was contained in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi.

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“Our diversity in culture, tribe and tradition is one of our greatest strengths as a continent,” the First Lady said, while noting that the convergence of culture and commerce at the sidelines of the AFREXIM Bank meetings is a reminder of the richness of Africa beyond the boardrooms.

The colourful event featured traditional dances, a fashion show spotlighting local designers, and an exhibition of African visual arts. 

It also included a guided tour of the gallery and an excursion to Nigerian designer stalls, where the dignitaries took time to sightsee and shop.

While the AFREXIM Bank Annual Meeting is largely centred on economic development and continental cooperation, the Spouses Programme reflected a softer dimension of diplomacy—celebrating African creativity, identity, and soft power.

“This reception may seem relaxed,” Senator Tinubu noted, “but its essence is deeply aligned with the vision of African unity and progress being championed at the AFREXIM Bank gathering.”

The event, which was coordinated by the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, highlighted the nation’s role not only as a host of high-level economic deliberations but also as a custodian of rich cultural heritage.

The Spouses Programme underscored a growing emphasis on cultural diplomacy as a complement to economic cooperation, aligning with the broader goals of the AFREXIM Bank’s 2025 Annual Meeting to advance Africa’s prosperity through unity in diversity.

The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) has called on African First Ladies to champion the fight against Monkey Pox, a disease rapidly becoming a global epidemic. 

This urgent appeal was made during OAFLAD’s Summit on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

Some of the First Ladies, including the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who shared their experiences in the last one year when the #We Are Equal campaign started, noted that the summit would help further shape Africa’s future.

In a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu said: “In Nigeria, I am driving the campaign through the Renewed Hope Initiative, (RHI), where we have 5 areas; Economic Empowerment, Social Investment, Agriculture, Health and Education. All of these are in line with my husbands Renewed Hope Agenda. 

“We have also just launched the Young Farmers Club, Nigeria, in senior primary and high schools, which will see the young ones get involved in Agriculture at an early stage”, she said. 

Nigeria’s First Lady emphasized that the nation is responding to the state of emergency on food security declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that is one of the reasons the RHI is also organizing Every Home a Garden competition, with a prize money and the winner would be announced in December 2024.

“When I was teaching high school, I realized that some of my brightest students had to drop out of school due to early pregnancies. But I also realized they can still be given a second chance.

“We are having a lot of collaborations presently and we are already having positive results especially in the area of girl child education and health issues”, the First Lady said.

During the discussion session at the event, panelists, including representatives of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other partners, the issue of Monkey Pox came on the front burner and the African First Ladies were urged to lead the battle against the disease that is fast becoming a global epidemic.

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The session also highlighted President Joe Bidens commitment on behalf of the US to the course of eliminating the disease with the Summit was an he donation of 1 million units of Mpox Vaccine to Africa and an additional $500m to fight the disease in the continent.

The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, OAFLAD also presented an award of appreciation for the successful and impactful launch of the #We Are Equal campaign in Nigeria to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and 4 other First Ladies for a similar feat in their countries.

18 African Countries have launched the #We Are Equal Campaign. The theme for the Summit was Amplifying Change Through Collaboration.