Tag: Oluremi Tinubu

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who served the country with “unwavering commitment, integrity, and a deep love for his people.”

In a condolence message, the First Lady expressed profound grief over the death of the two-time Nigerian leader, who passed away in London following a prolonged illness.

She hailed Buhari’s legacy as one rooted in courage, conviction, and service to the nation.

The message reads: “Our nation has lost a great leader who dedicated his life to the service of our beloved country. President Buhari served Nigeria with unwavering commitment, integrity, and a deep love for his people.”

Senator Tinubu noted that the late president would be remembered as a man of principle, whose leadership was defined by a tireless advocacy for justice and good governance.

Read Also: Nigeria declares seven days of mourning for  ex-President

She praised his steadfast belief in the potential of every Nigerian and his lifelong dedication to the common good.

“He was a man of immense courage, conviction, and a tireless advocate for justice and good governance. I recall his dedication to the common good and his unwavering belief in the potential of every Nigerian”, the First Lady added.

Extending condolences to Buhari’s widow Hajiya Aisha and the entire family, Mrs. Tinubu assured them of the nation’s solidarity during this time of loss.

“To his beloved wife, H.E. Hajiya Aisha Buhari, his children, grandchildren and the entire family, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences. May you find solace in the outpouring of love and support from a grateful nation. Please know that your grief is shared by all of us.”

She concluded with prayers for divine comfort for the family and the nation, and for the late president’s soul to find eternal rest.

“May Almighty Allah grant former President Muhammadu Buhari Aljanah Firdaus and comfort his wife, family, and all Nigerians.”

Wife of the president and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commemeded the chairman of Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos, Hon. Abdul-Hammed Salawu for initiating and completing four legacy projects recently.

The inaugurated projects comprised the new administrative building, named after the First Lady; the legislative building, named after the late Senator Bayo Osinowo; the Fire service Station named after a former boss of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Tiamiyu Adesina and the Police Post named after Bashua.

The First Lady who was represented at the occasion by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hajia Fatimah Tajudeen Abass said: ” Hon. Salawu has bequeathed an enduring legacies to the generations yet unborn, and has given us hope and  has written his name in Gold.”

Read Also: AGF seeks adequate protection for whistleblowers

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Obafemi Hamzat said: ” The Chairman has set a very high standard for the in- coming Chairman, who must not only strive to excel, but maintain the administrative building and also impact on the residents as done by Hon. Salawu.

The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), Pastor Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi affirmed that the people of Somolu Local Government made a right choice when they voted for Hon Abdul -Hammed Salawu “Dullar” in 2017 and returned him again in 2021.He charged the residents to vote massively for the candidates of APC in the next Local Government elections as the hope is very high for him to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

A member of the Governance Advisory Council(GAC), Senator Anthony Adefuye, said the unique  nature of the administrative building has melted his heart and endeared him more to Salawu.

Another member of the GAC, Prince Rabiu Oluwa said that Salawu should count himself lucky that he was able to deliver on his promise to the people by commissioning projects

In her remarks, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye lauded Salawu for the initiative to build a fire which is erroneously believed to be the exclusive preserve of the State and the Federal Government. She promised to deploy personnel to the station and add another Fire Truck to the one the council purchased.

The representative of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, DCP Khan Salihu said the Somolu Police Post would help to enhance security, reduce the shortage of office accommodation and bring policing to the grassroots.

Salawu thanked the First Lady , the Governor, the APC chairman, members of the GAC, State House of Assembly, monarchs and residents for their support for his administration..

Other dignitaries at the event include Alhaji Akanni Seriki aka “Baba Bamu”; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area  and  Conference “57” ,Hon Kolade Alabi; chairman of Odi Olowo / Ojuwoye LCDA Hon . Rasaq Ajala among others.

Others are: A representative of Oba of Somolu, Oba  Adelani Adeniyi, the Oniladaba of Iladaba; Oba Nureni Ebudola,the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buhari Balogun; the Omola of Odomola; Oba Adesina Adebowale; the Chief Imam of Somolu Local Government, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Primate Simon  Adedoyin; wives of members of the House of Representatives from Lagos state, the Leader of the House, Yomi Osikoya and the Council Manager, Mr. Abiodun Babington.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for greater investment in the empowerment of rural communities, describing them as the foundation of national development.

First Lady Tinubu made the call in a statement she issued on Sunday in commemoration of the 2025 World Rural Development Day.

With this year’s theme, “Rural Development: Resilience to Global Change,” the First Lady underscored the urgent need to equip rural populations with the tools and support needed to withstand and adapt to mounting global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and social unrest.

“Rural communities are the bedrock upon which lasting national development is built,” Senator Tinubu declared, emphasising that sustainable development cannot be achieved if vast segments of the population remain excluded or under-resourced.

The First Lady’s message comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the compounded effects of climate variability, food insecurity, and regional development disparities.

READ ALSO: Six dead, three missing in Navy boat mishap

In recent years, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out a number of initiatives aimed at rural revitalisation, including targeted agricultural support programs, rural electrification projects, and grassroots entrepreneurship schemes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Senator Tinubu’s call aligns with ongoing federal efforts, but her message added a moral and strategic urgency to the national conversation on inclusive development.

“We need to empower our rural populations to adapt and thrive in the face of the growing challenges,” she said, noting that resilience in the rural sector is not just a local necessity, but a global imperative.

She also emphasised unity and collective responsibility in achieving the nation’s rural transformation goals: “Let us work together to ensure that no community is left behind as we build a stronger, more resilient Nigeria.”

World Rural Development Day, observed globally on July 6, is dedicated to highlighting the importance of rural communities and drawing attention to the need for equitable development.

She concluded with a rallying call to all stakeholders, from policymakers to private sector players, civil society actors to community leaders, to double efforts in ensuring that rural voices are heard, and their needs prioritised.

• Senator Tinubu launches RHI Green Nigeria challenge

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged the National Assembly to provide direct funding support for humanitarian and social intervention efforts led by her office and those of governors’ wives across the states.

Mrs. Tinubu decried what she called persistent funding constraints that have hindered outreach to underserved communities across the country.

The First Lady spoke yesterday in Abuja at the second quarterly meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), her flagship social service platform.

She emphasised the need for a structured legislative backing for the initiatives being driven by her office and those of the governors’ wives.

“Most of the resources I used to work are just given to me by well-meaning Nigerians. It is whatever they give me that I have to distribute to the first ladies of the various states. It’s difficult. So, the government doesn’t run my office. I do a lot of collaboration, which you will see,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu, who served 12 years in the Senate, made a direct appeal to her former colleagues in the legislature to support a dedicated intervention fund for the Office of the First Lady, modeled after zonal intervention projects.

“I want the Senate; I’m talking to my Senate colleagues now because my going to the Senate for 12 years shouldn’t be in vain, if they are not able to let a First Lady take a project per year. I’m not going to go through the Ministry of Women Affairs… I’m going to the Senate,” she said.

According to her, the proposed arrangement will allow first ladies to access funds responsibly and transparently.

Mrs. Tinubu added: “Even if it is N500 million they want to give us, if it is N1 billion, then we are going to use it for this, and then we can be accountable.”

“The point for me is this: after this place, I’m going to go back into society. I want to see what I can do to make the society better.”

The First Lady stressed that the position of a First Lady should not be reduced to ceremonial appearances.

“We don’t want to sit in the Villa or in the government residences and eat. It should be with the First Lady who wants to do work. She shouldn’t be restricted,” she added.

Reiterating the broader purpose of the First Ladies’ engagements across the country, Mrs. Tinubu said: “We are wives. Whatever name we call ourselves, either a domestic engineer or whatever, we want to see our husbands succeed. Because you see, they are the trees, and the trees have to stand strong.

“That is why we went out to make sure that at least we can do — number one, help our husbands succeed, and number two, help the vulnerable amongst us, those who are voiceless.”

Reflecting on national priorities, the First Lady called for a shift in mindset about Nigeria’s wealth and spending culture.

“Nigerians, we can’t say we are a poor country. We are so blessed with a lot of resources. But we just have to have the right thinking. If you see the way we have parties in Nigeria, you wonder: is this a poor nation? We have parties for a whole week… Maybe it started from the palaces of kings in the day, but now individual festivals are going on. And we have to be mindful,” she said.

Read Also: First Lady seeks legislative support for humanitarian projects

Mrs. Tinubu launched the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge, a national tree-planting competition aimed at combating deforestation and halting the desert encroachment ravaging the northern states.

The initiative, the First Lady said, was inspired by her travels to the region and her observation of the alarming disappearance of tree cover.

“I want us to grow trees. I discovered traveling to the North, mainly it’s void of trees. All you see is just dry land. But what I notice also: some trees survive in the North,” she said.

The Green Nigeria Challenge will feature competitions at the household, community, and state levels.

Individual households that participate in tree-planting may win up to N10 million, while community efforts could attract prizes up to N100 million.

A N100 million prize will also go to the best-performing state.

“If it is a community, we are looking at N100 million. If it is an individual home, we are looking at N10 million,” Mrs. Tinubu said.

Mrs. Tinubu praised Enugu State for being a model of environmental cleanliness.

“We are exempting your state because Enugu is clean and all green. So, that is our model state. We are going to be presenting an award to them. Also, you know, some monetary compensation,” she added.

In addition to the environmental initiative, Mrs. Tinubu unveiled the NITDA-RHI Women’s ICT Training Programme for 2025, a digital empowerment scheme targeting 240 women nationwide—40 from each of the six geopolitical zones.

Each participant will receive a laptop, bag, internet dongle, user manual, notebook, and a grant of N80,000, which she said is being considered for an upward review to N100,000.

Reinforcing the commitment of state First Ladies to grassroots engagement, the wife of Kwara State governor and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, assured development partners and donors of the structured reach of their interventions.

Dignitaries at the event included the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, wives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Senate President, as well as first ladies from across several Nigerian states.

In a heartfelt message commemorating World Refugee Day 2025, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has called on Nigerians to build inclusive communities that go beyond simply accommodating refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), urging citizens to embrace and support them fully.

“Let us continue to build inclusive communities where refugees and Internally Displaced Persons are not just welcomed, but truly embraced and supported. Once supported, they should reciprocate by being law-abiding and contribute meaningfully to their host community,” the First Lady said in her message yesterday.

World Refugee Day, marked annually on June 20, celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home countries due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.

Read Also: Tinubu: every Nigerian will feel impact of good governance

 This year’s theme, “Community as a Superpower,” underscores the transformative role of collective action in restoring dignity and hope to displaced populations.

Senator Tinubu highlighted the resilience of displaced persons globally, noting that while refugees often demonstrate remarkable strength, it is the generosity of communities that helps turn their survival into stories of healing and renewed purpose.

“Across Nigeria and the world, refugees have shown remarkable strength. But it is often the kindness of neighbours, the open arms of strangers, and the unity of communities that turn survival into hope, and hope into healing.

“Together, as a community, we are stronger,” she affirmed, adding that World Refugee Day serves as a reminder of the shared humanity that binds all people, regardless of their circumstances.

•Donates 400 bags of rice, 1,200 pieces of ankara
•FG to replicate resettlement city across the country

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday commissioned a resettlement city for displaced persons in Keffi, Nasarawa State, describing it as a milestone in the federal government’s efforts to restore dignity to Nigerians affected by conflict and displacement.

The resettlement city, constructed by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), accommodates 40 households—comprising 239 individuals—drawn from the North East region of Nigeria as well as refugees from Cameroon, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

The facility has been officially named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Resettlement City by the Federal Commissioner of the Commission, Tijani Ahmed, in recognition of the First Lady’s commitment to humanitarian causes.

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Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Tinubu urged residents to be law-abiding and integrate peacefully with the host community, Yar Kade. She emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their background, live in dignity and security.

“Today’s occasion represents progress in a national effort to restore hope, dignity, safety and patriotism to fellow Nigerians who have been displaced from their homes due to circumstances such as insurgency, banditry, communal clashes and natural disasters. I am pleased to witness the resettlement of 40 households comprising 239 individuals into a safe and dignified environment.

“This development reaffirms the commitment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu which aims to enhance social welfare programs for all Nigerians. Our work does not end here. Resettlement must go hand in hand with empowerment and skills acquisition.”

To support the resettled families, the First Lady donated 400 bags of 25kg rice, 1,200 pieces of ankara fabric, 600 units of the national fabric, and cash support—N200,000 per household and N50,000 to each farmer among them.

She also announced that 100 hectares of farmland had been secured to help the families generate food and income. The resettlement city is equipped with greenhouses, a vocational training centre, police station, church, mosque, and a health clinic.

This will go a long way in helping the families to settle down, live independently, and contribute meaningfully to the society, she noted.

Commending the host community, she reminded the occupants of their civic duties and the need for harmonious living. “When people house you, they don’t become your enemy. They become part of you… You have to love your neighbours and live in peace,” she said.

Federal Commissioner Tijani Ahmed described the centre as a beacon of renewed hope and part of the commission’s humanitarian agenda. He noted that the city features over 40 housing blocks, a solar-powered greenhouse, a modern school, a skills acquisition centre, and places of worship.

“These facilities are designed not only to provide shelter but to nurture a thriving, self-sufficient community,” Ahmed said.

Also present at the commissioning, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to replicating the model across the country.

“This initiative gives hope to our children, women, and displaced families. It shows that their voices are heard and their struggles recognized,” the Minister said.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State was commended for providing the land and supporting the integration of the displaced families into the state.

• Reaffirms support for inclusive policies on Albinism Awareness Day

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians living abroad to demonstrate greater commitment to the development of their homeland by supporting the country’s ongoing reconstruction efforts.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by renowned Nigerian-American pediatrician and philanthropist, Dr. Philip Ozuah, at the State House, Abuja, the First Lady commended his contributions to healthcare and education in Nigeria, particularly his support for the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

“We are proud that a Nigerian is doing so well in the U.S.. It is a good thing that you have also looked back and helped your alma mater, University College Hospital, Ibadan. For you to look back home, starting with education, is a great thing indeed,” Senator Tinubu said.

She noted that through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), her office has prioritised education and other social intervention programmes aimed at uplifting vulnerable groups. 

She also encouraged more Nigerians in the diaspora to leverage their expertise and resources in support of national development.

The First Lady expressed appreciation to Dr. Ozuah for “flying the flag of Nigeria” and representing the country positively on the global stage.

Read Also: Tinubu rescued Nigeria’s economy from collapse, restored financial solvency – Soludo

In his remarks, Dr. Ozuah, President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine in the United States, applauded Senator Tinubu’s passionate advocacy for maternal and child health, as well as her continuous calls for both domestic and international support for Nigeria.

He described the First Lady’s interventions in health and education as inspiring, adding that he looked forward to collaborating with the Renewed Hope Initiative to expand access to healthcare for women and children across Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the First Lady on Thursday reaffirmed her commitment to promoting inclusive policies and public education initiatives aimed at protecting the rights of persons with albinism, as the country joined the global community to mark the 2025 International Albinism Awareness Day.

In a statement to commemorate the occasion, the First Lady expressed solidarity with individuals living with albinism in Nigeria and around the world, urging greater societal recognition of their dignity, healthcare needs, and rights to equal opportunity.

“This year’s theme, ‘Demanding our Rights: Protect our Skin, Preserve our Lives,’ is a great call to action. It reminds us that people with albinism deserve not only equal rights but also the dignity, safety, and healthcare needed to live full, healthy lives,” Senator Tinubu said.

She emphasised the need to create a society where all Nigerians, regardless of skin condition, are empowered to live with “pride and dignity.”

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reaffirmed commitment to promoting inclusive policies and public education initiatives aimed at protecting the rights of persons with albinism, as the country joined the global community to mark the 2025 International Albinism Awareness Day.

In a statement to commemorate the occasion, the First Lady expressed solidarity with individuals living with albinism in Nigeria and around the world, urging greater societal recognition of their dignity, healthcare needs, and rights to equal opportunity.

“This year’s theme, ‘Demanding our Rights: Protect our Skin, Preserve our Lives,’ is a great call to action. It reminds us that people with albinism deserve not only equal rights but also the dignity, safety, and healthcare needed to live full, healthy lives”, Senator Tinubu said.

Read Also: Tinubu rescued Nigeria’s economy from collapse, restored financial solvency – Soludo

She emphasised the need to create a society where all Nigerians, regardless of skin condition, are empowered to live with “pride and dignity.”

Tinubu’s message aligns with ongoing advocacy efforts by rights groups and health institutions to improve dermatological care, reduce stigma, and enhance legal protection for people with albinism—a genetic condition characterized by the absence of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.

The First Lady’s office has in the past championed initiatives supporting vulnerable groups and pledged to sustain such efforts through community outreach and partnerships with civil society organizations.

“Happy International Albinism Awareness Day!” she concluded warmly.