Tag: First Lady

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has emphasised the need to empower youth in agriculture, citing a disconnect between reality and fiction.

Receiving the Management team of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADFUND) at the State House, Mrs. Tinubu stressed the importance of catching young people early and instilling positive values.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady expressed commitment to supportinng President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in delivering democratic dividends, particularly for women and youth.

Mrs. Tinubu’s focus on youth empowerment in agriculture aligns with the government’s efforts to revitalize the sector and ensure food security.

She noted that the unavailability of farming land due to urbanization should not be a hindrance, as people can engage in smart gardening.

She explained that the proposed Young Farmers Club by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) which would be launched very soon in public primary and secondary schools, will further sustain the current food sufficiency drive by the federal government.

Read Also: Governor Sani hails Tinubu for signing NWDC bill into law

“We have a lot to show our youth and I believe the time is now. There is a huge disconnect between reality and fiction. There is a need to catch them young and have them do right. Once the children get it, it would be easy to bring it home. 

“My being here is to support my husband and ensure we are able to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and see what we can do especially for the women and youth,” she said. 

Executive Secretary of the NADFUND, Mohammed Ibrahim, commended the various Agric centered programs of the RHI by the First Lady, particularly, the Women in Agric Support Program (WASP), the Young Farmers Club and the #Every Home a Garden competition.

“The competition and your own garden show exemplary leadership from you. This further emphasizes that ensuring food security is everyone’s responsibility”

The Executive Secretary disclosed that the Agency is willing to collaborate with the RHI especially in the areas of mentorship, training and logistics for women farmers across States of the Federation.

Mohammed Ibrahim also presented the document of the aims and mission of NADFUND to the First Lady. 

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on youths to be focused positively and set their minds on creative things.

She spoke when she visited the Yunus Emre Institute in Maitama, Abuja, on invitation of First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, Mrs. Emine Erdogan.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs. Tinubu urged young artists to believe in themselves and dream big.

The Institute, established by the Turkish Government, is to train Nigerians in creative arts and other aspects of cultural exchange between the two countries.

Mrs. Tinubu praised the institute for providing opportunities for artists to actualise their dreams, emphasising the importance of perseverance and humility.

She said: “This center provides great opportunities for you to live your dreams as artists. You are not only learning about Turkey, but also actualising your dreams.

“Believe in what you are doing and as long as you set your mind to it, you will succeed. Dream big, but do not despise the days of humble beginnings.”

Read Also: Believe in yourselves, First Lady urges youths

The First Lady, who inspected some of the paintings exhibited by Female Nigerian artists at the center, expressed her delight at the level of creativity while admonishing them to express more positivity in their creative works.

She also was in the classroom of some of children from an orphanage who are going through formal education courtesy of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria.

“I see this as a step towards granting our children scholarships just as we have with the Republic of Belarus. Turkish citizens here should also learn some of our languages,” she noted.

Mrs. Tinubu also thanked Mrs. Erdoğan for her presence at the just-concluded OIC High-Level Seminar on Cancer Awareness hosted by Nigeria, and for inviting her to visit the center.

“I appreciate the First Lady for all the work she is doing for Africa and also for identifying Africa as the rising sun and light,” she added.

The Ambassador to Turkey in Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, while welcoming the First Lady, highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two countries, especially in the area of cultural exchange and education.

“Our relations have been growing especially in economic issues. We have very good political relations as well. One of the aspects of these relations is of course the cultural aspects of these two countries.

“One of the aims of this Institute is that the Nigerian students learning Turkish will have the opportunity of working in Turkish companies, when they come to establish here and even when they go to Turkey,” she said.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on youths to be focused positively and set their minds on creative things.

She was speaking when she paid a visit to the Yunus Emre Institute, Maitama, Abuja on the invitation of the First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, Mrs Emine Erdogan.

According to a statementby her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, she urged young artists to believe in themselves and dream big.

The Institute, which was established by the Turkish Government, is to train Nigerians in creative arts and other aspects of cultural exchange between the two countries.

Mrs. Tinubu praised the institute for providing opportunities for artists to actualize their dreams, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and humility.

“This centre provides great opportunities for you to live your dreams as artists. You are not only learning about Turkey but also actualizing your dreams.

Read Also: No need for protest because I’ve heard your call – Tinubu tells Nigerians

“Believe in what you are doing and as long as you set your mind to it, you will succeed. Dream big, but do not despise the days of humble beginnings,” she said.

The First Lady, who inspected some of the paintings exhibited by the Female Nigerian artists at the centre, expressed delight at the level of creativity while admonishing them to express more positivity in their creative works.

She also was in the classroom of some of little children from an orphanage who are going through formal education courtesy of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria.

“I see this as a step towards granting our children scholarships just as we have with the Republic of Belarus. Turkish citizens here should also learn some of our languages,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu expressed appreciation to Mrs Emine Erdoğan, not only for her presence at the recently concluded OIC High-Level Seminar on Cancer Awareness hosted by Nigeria but also for extending an invitation for her to visit the centre.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has emphasised the importance of women seeking power and promoting gender equality in governance.

According to a statement issued on Monday, July 22, by her senior special assistant on media, Busola Kukoyi, First Lady Tinubu was speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association’s Spotlight Initiative in Abuja.

She stressed that power must be actively sought, citing her husband President Bola Tinubu’s words, “Power is not served à la carte, you have to learn how to obtain power.”

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted education as a cornerstone of empowerment, advocating for improved access to education for girls and women to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective political participation.

She also emphasized the need to raise awareness about women’s representation in governance, suggesting public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs to shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes.

The First Lady identified barriers to women’s political participation, including societal norms, discriminatory practices, structural issues, and financial incapability.

“Power is not served A’lar carte, just as my husband, President Bola Tinubu said. You have to learn how to obtain power. You need older women to mentor you.

“Education is the cornerstone of empowerment. By improving access to education for girls and women, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in political processes.

“Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of women’s representation in governance is crucial. Public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs can help shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes that hinder women’s political participation.

“These barriers include deeply entrenched societal norms, systemic discriminatory practices, structural issues within our political systems, and financial incapability”, she said.

She commended the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for removing financial barriers by providing free nomination forms for elective positions at the grassroots level, enabling capable women to participate without prohibitive costs.

“To achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk. For instance, our party, the APC, has taken significant steps to remove financial barriers by making nomination forms for elective positions free at the grassroots level, ensuring that capable and qualified women can participate in the political process without the burden of prohibitive costs”, she said.

Mrs. Tinubu expressed optimism about the Senate’s gender-friendly leadership, encouraging women to take advantage of opportunities to promote gender equality in governance.

“I believe that the leadership in the Senate is gender-friendly”, the First Lady said.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament who is also the first female to occupy the position, Rt Hon Hadija Memounatou Ibrahimah, in her remarks, urged the First Lady of Nigeria to serve as the champion of the course of better representation for women in governance in the region.

This she noted is especially so with the commendable contributions to the issues of women and girls.

“Your Excellency, you transmit a kind of light that illuminates the leadership of Nigeria. It touches the lives of even the ordinary man.

“Women account for half of the population of ECOWAS member States. Only 17% are Parliamentarians and 24% are Ministers in the region. It is high time to reduce the underrepresentation of women in democracy”, she said.

Read Also: First Lady Tinubu urges political stakeholders to act on gender equity in governance

The Senate President, Senator Godwill Akpabio who was represented by the Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau stated that for the Senate, women’s participation in governance is a priority.

“We will redefine the power of women in governance”, he said.

After the Session, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in a nostalgic move, visited the newly renovated hallowed Red Chamber. She commended the leadership of the Senate.

The First Lady was a third-term Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District till 2023.

U.S-based lawyer, Chief Owolabi Salis has hailed the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for her recently unveiled Smart Garden Initiative.

The Ikorodu-born lawyer described the move as a right step latent with the auspicious prospect to transform the agricultural sector from its present rudimentary bare-subsistence to immensely transformative proportion for national self-sufficiency, if properly handled and sustained.

“The initiative came very close to the content of my manifesto on Agriculture, which I repeatedly harped upon during my three-time campaigns for governorship, spanning 2007 to 2019, variously on the platforms of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alliance For Democracy (AD),” Salis added.

Read Also: Obi’s supporters behind planned protests, says Presidency

“In those periods, my team and I worked out an operational methodology to ensure that every available arable land in Lagos State were converted to agricultural usage as part of a comprehensive blue-print drawn towards the crucial goal of agricultural self-sufficiency, in accordance with the advice which I had called on successive governments before then, and even up till now to heed, in other to save the people especially the poor, from the throes of starvation,” he stated.

Salis also seized the opportunity to give kudos to Chief Afe Babalola, the founder and proprietor of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, who at an event recently organised by the University, coincidentally told the audience that he often sourced his food needs including meats from his own farm and would never purchase food from outside.

 “Indeed this epic revelation by Chief Babalola is an exemplary action that commends itself for emulation by us all, because this is a man, who has all the financial resources in this world to afford whatever he desires, yet he jettisoned that option and rather decided to show us a worthy example in self-sufficiency.”

The First lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed sadness over the death of students and teachers in the school building collapse in Jos, Plateau.

Mrs Tinubu, in a statement issued on Saturday by her Spokesperson, Mrs Bukola Kukoyi, sympathised with the entire people Plateau, especially Gov. Caleb Muftwang and the bereaved families.

“It is indeed sad to hear the news of the school building collapse in Jos which claimed the lives of our innocent children and their teachers.

“It is disheartening to lose these children with promising future; words are not enough to console you; but I pray that God comforts you all and grants you the strength to bear the devastating loss.

“May the souls of these our precious ones rest in perfect peace. Amen,’’ she prayed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 22 people have been confirmed dead and 132 injured in the Friday school building collapse.

Mr Musa Ashoms, the Commissioner for Information and Communication in Plateau, had confirmed the figures in a statement made available to the newsmen on Friday.

Read Also: First Lady distributes palliatives to 2,400PWDs, orphans, less-privileged in Kaduna

He also expressed the government’s deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic building collapse that occurred at Saint Academy, Jos, on Friday.

The commissioner had said that emergency responders were currently at the scene conducting search and rescue operations.

“As of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been removed from the debris; sadly, 22 individuals have died.

“The injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos,’’ he said.

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged-off the distribution of palliatives to 2,400 less privileged residents in Kaduna State, including People With Disabilities (PWDs), orphanage homes, widows and women infected by HIV among others.

Tinubu, who was represented at the flag-off of the palliatives distribution by Wife of Kaduna Governor, Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani, said the palliative was designed to cushion the effects of economic hardship on the less privileged across the country.

The First Lady said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was working tirelessly to improve the economy of the country and therefore, it requires the patience and corporation of the citizens to achieve the desired goals of delivering good governance to the people.

She however said the less privileged, poor, vulnerable and underserved people of Nigeria, especially People With Disabilities (PWDs) are dear to her heart, she chose to distribute the palliatives, to assist them.

While urging the beneficiaries not to sell the palliatives but use it to the benefit of themselves and their families, she promised to sustain the assistance in Kaduna and across the Country.

Kaduna Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Rabi Salisu explained 2,400 bags of rice donated by the First Lady, Senator Tinubu is being distributed to 2,400 less privileged families.

She said the beneficiaries were drawn from, the 23 local government areas and from different groups including, PWDs, orphanages, widows, people infected by HIV,  NYSC Corps members and the two religious bodies, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) among others.

Wife of Governor Uba Sani, Hajia Hafsat gave cash donation to the respective beneficiaries’ groups to complement the food item donated by the First Lady.

Read Also: First Lady opens IAWP regional conference

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of their groups, expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu and Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani for not forgetting them, despite that they have won elections. 

Chairman of the PWDs in Kaduna, Suleiman Abdullahi said, “the palliative distribution is a sign that the APC government of President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani at Kaduna State level, care for the people, especially People With Disabilities (PWDs). In the past, when the elections are over, the people in government often forget the less privileged like us.

“So, we are grateful to the First Lady and Wife of our amiable Governor, Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani for this palliative. We are assuring that, it will will be equitably. We pray that Almighty God will uplift them and help them to deliver on the responsibilities on their shoulders,” he said.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for collective action among all stakeholders for the eradication of Female Genital Multilation (FGM) in Nigeria by 2030.

Mrs. Tinubu spoke yesterday in Abuja during this year’s annual global technical consultation of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF joint programme on the elimination of FGM with the theme: Delivering the Global Promise.

The First Lady said FGM is recognised internationally as a human rights violation against girls and women because it involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

“Globally, as at 2023, according to WHO, about 230 million girls and women have undergone some form of female genital mutilation and about 68 million girls are at risk of also experiencing this practice between 2015 and 2030.

“Nigeria has the third highest burden of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and accounts for about one-tenth of FGM survivors in the world.

“This indicates that Nigeria has a major role to play in ‘delivering the global promise’ to end FGM by 2030.

Read Also; First Lady’s RHI lifts 600 vulnerable Nasarawa residents with food items

“Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) significantly harms women and girls in various ways. Physically, it causes pain, infections, urinary abnormalities, and complications during childbirth.

“Emotionally, it leads to low self-esteem and feelings of betrayal; psychologically, it can result in post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

“Over time, these adverse effects diminish women’s overall well-being, restrict their opportunities to exercise their rights, and hinder the realisation of their full potential.

“Therefore, it is crucial to intensify advocacy efforts to eliminate this harmful practice,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu recalled that since 2008, the UNFPA and UNICEF have been leading the largest global programme on eliminating FGM.

“Although a lot of progress has been made with a decline in the prevalence from 25 per cent to 20 per cent among women, in spite of the achievement, there are still much more to be done and we all have important roles to play.

“I charge us to collaborate with the wives of governors of the various states in Nigeria and other stakeholders to critically address this harmful practice,” Mrs. Tinubu said.

The First Lady recommended education enhancement and awareness through media campaigns, health outreaches, and community engagement to eliminate ignorance about harmful practices.

“Second, we need to empower survivors by providing comprehensive medical, legal, and psychological services to help them regain their dignity.

“Third, while significant legal strides have been made with the Child’s Rights Act 2003 and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, enforcement remains inconsistent.

“Therefore, we must ensure that these laws are fully adopted, reported and enforced.

“Lastly, we should foster partnerships by engaging with women groups, form alliances with young people, civil society, faith-based organisations and the government,” she said.

“This collaboration will help mobilise resources, share best practices, and create a sustainable movement against gender-based violence and Female Genital Mutilation,” she said.