Tag: Senator Oluremi Tinubu

• Senator Tinubu urges peaceful co-existence among citizens

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday urged fellow Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence and unity as the surest pathway to national prosperity.

She said that harmony among citizens attracts divine blessings and strengthens nation-building.

Mrs. Tinubu spoke in Kaduna at the annual distribution of food items to the Christian Northern Nigeria Political Forum (CNNPF) for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The First Lady drew lessons from the Holy Bible, stressing that when people live together in unity, God showers His blessings on them.

In a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country, despite the prevailing global and local challenges.

“Let us all stay and make Nigeria great again. Good things are already happening in this country,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu noted that peace and harmony remain indispensable to sustainable development.

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The First Lady said true nation-building happens where citizens see one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of religious or ethnic differences.

Praising Kaduna State for its strides in promoting interfaith harmony, Senator Tinubu gave Governor Uba Sani a pat on the back.

She urged other states to emulate his administration’s example.

Mrs. Tinubu thanked the governor and his wife, Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani, for their hospitality and for demonstrating that peaceful coexistence across religious and ethnic lines is achievable.

The First Lady also urged Nigerians in the creative industry to partner the government in building the nation, noting that their growing global success positions them as key ambassadors of unity and national pride.

“Our stars should please come and join us in building this nation. I am available, if they want me to partner with them,” she said.

Governor Sani described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady as leaders who are deeply committed to service, compassion, and national unity.

The governor said the First Lady’s philanthropy cuts across religious, ethnic and regional boundaries, reinforcing social cohesion and mutual respect.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia noted that Kaduna State has enjoyed improved peace due to purposeful leadership, which he said mirrors the example set by the President at the national level.

Also, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, assured Nigerians that ongoing initiatives of the APC-led Federal Government and APC-controlled states would translate into a better 2026 for the citizens.

The National Coordinator of the CNNPF, Ibrahim Itodo, hailed President Tinubu for sustaining national unity and prayed for his successful re-election in 2027.

He urged northern governors to adopt Kaduna State’s peace-building strategy to enhance harmony in their states.

The annual food distribution programme, a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, uplifted over 48,000 people from 19 northern states at this year’s edition.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 250 people with disabilities (PWDs) in each state of the federation with N50 million.

Each of the beneficiaries will receive N200,000 cash support to recapitalise their existing businesses and strengthen their means of livelihood.

Represented by the wife of the governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the First Lady announced that a total of 9,500 persons with disabilities across Nigeria will benefit from the programme, amounting to N1,900,000,000.

“This programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind, especially those whose needs are often overlooked.

“It is worth noting that over the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported over 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses.

“Our commitment to improving lives has also been demonstrated through various interventions in Agriculture, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Social Welfare, aimed at improving the well-being of families across our country.

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“Our Social Investment Programmes (SIP) have provided financial and material support to victims of floods, communal clashes, and disasters, as well as to the elderly, widows, and orphans of our fallen heroes.

“Through the RHI Monthly Food Outreach Scheme, we have so far delivered food items to 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We also provide food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities. We remain committed to doing even more to uplift lives and bring hope to those in need.

“In recognition of our shared responsibility to promote inclusion, the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative has resolved to make the Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities an annual event, in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

“To all our beneficiaries, I encourage you to make good use of this opportunity. Let it be a seed that grows into something greater; a business that sustains you and your family.”

• NTA, FRCN, VON hold service of Nine Lessons in Abuja

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that despite its challenges, Nigeria will soon triumph.

She urged Nigerians not to enter the coming year with fear but confidence.

Mrs. Tinubu spoke at the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols 2025 with the theme: “Jesus, Our Strength” jointly organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and the Voice of Nigeria (VON) at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

The First Lady described this year’s theme as timely and prophetic.

She noted that it was a declaration that Jesus is indeed the strength of Nigeria.

 Mrs. Tinubu said: “Your consistency strengthens Nigeria’s faith, culture, creativity, and spiritual humility. May this Christmas season of 2025 usher us into a year of renewed strength in 2026. May our confidence in God’s plan for Nigeria be revived. God is in the storm with us, and He has given us the power of Christ to overcome every individual and collective challenge. The victory of our faith is the victory of our nation.

“May our homes be filled with joy, our communities with peace, and our hands with strength that only Jesus gives. As the theme declares — Jesus, Our Strength — may we never forget that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Let us not enter the coming year with fear, but with confident assurance that God crowns the year with goodness and leads us in glory. Nigeria may be tested, but Nigeria will triumph.

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“Tonight, we gather not merely to sing songs, though praise is central to our worship, but to reflect deeply on the message behind the melodies, the drumbeats, the dances, the cultural rhythms, and the heavenly-sounding carols that connect us to the nativity.

“We have heard songs from across Nigeria: refreshing, reviving, and truly representative of both the spirit of Christmas and the essence of Abuja as a symbol of Nigerian unity. Nigeria was created by God, and Nigerians were created to carry a generational legacy of His will through seasons such as this.

“We are here to declare renewed hope — because even when a tree is cut down, at the scent of water, it will bud again. As Reverend William Okoye reminded us, Nigeria will rise again. Truly, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. When we see the Red Sea before us, we must lift our eyes to Jesus, who walks upon the waters and brings us through. We must embrace the fear of God, and cast away the fear of circumstances. This season reminds us of a holy night, but more importantly, of a holy legacy.”

Mrs. Tinubu, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, added: “The scripture declares in Psalm 65:11–13 that God crowns the year with goodness; the pastures overflow, and the valleys shout for joy. Nigeria, we will shout for joy. We will sing. And our fields will flourish again. These words are not mere echoes — they are prophetic declarations aligned with the heartbeat of Christmas.

“God crowns the year not by human hands, but by divine covering. We have listened tonight to powerful presentations: the choir, the children on saxophone, the instrumentalists, and the custodians of our cultural and spiritual heritage. They stand on our shoulders, and we must ensure those shoulders are firm. Like Israel, Nigeria has journeyed through seasons — challenges, transitions, humbling moments. Yet here we stand, global yet grounded, and embracing divine help once again. A new Nigeria is like a new Jerusalem that will not pass away.

“Nigeria’s values will rise again. Our fields will flourish again. Our unity will strengthen again. The question remains: Do we have room in our hearts for the Savior? The birth of Jesus remains the world’s greatest announcement: That light is stronger than darkness…”

• Senator Tinubu addresses 12th WISE summit plenary in Doha

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged global leaders, educators, and innovators to ensure that modern technology places emphasis on human values.

Her advocacy comes as the world moves deeper into the digital age.

Speaking at the “Education Above All” plenary of the 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar, Mrs. Tinubu said humanity must remain at the centre of technological advancement.

The First Lady warned that innovation without ethics could undermine progress rather than enhance it.

In a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said: “We should be the drivers of technology.

“Technology must lead; we should not remove human values from technology,” she stated.

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Mrs. Tinubu noted that the rapid evolution of digital tools demands deliberate efforts to safeguard human dignity, connection and purpose.

Sharing the stage with her counterparts from Lebanon and Syria, Senator Tinubu applauded Qatar’s achievements in education and restated Nigeria’s resolve to expand access to schooling for all children, especially girls.

The First Lady said no religion prohibits the education of girls, adding that the Federal Government remained committed to unlocking the promise that quality learning offers.

“Everything begins with education. We are doing all we can as a government to advance the sector. Nigeria has a huge human capital resource, and that is what we thrive on,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted the remarkable global footprint of Nigerian youth across sectors – arts, technology, fashion, agriculture and the creative industries – crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prioritisation of innovation and technology as catalysts for human capital development.

“Nigeria, being an emerging economy, has benefitted greatly from digital literacy because it is faster and reaches more people. It also comes with its downsides, as some young people use it positively and others negatively. We believe in continuously empowering them, and they will do better,” she added

The Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and host of the summit, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, underscored the need for education to be transformative, connecting young people to new opportunities and enabling communities to thrive.

Speakers at the summit, which drew over 150,000 participants from around the world, also emphasised that human values and ethics must guide the use of artificial intelligence, stressing that technological progress would be hollow without moral grounding.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said the manipulation of religion to justify violence and intolerance is a distortion that must be challenged through knowledge, engagement, and moral leadership.

Mrs. Tinubu said this yesterday at the maiden West Africa Islamic Conference on Security and Governance, with the theme: The Role of Islamic Organisation in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in West Africa and the Sahel.

The conference was organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with an Islamic organisation in Nigeria, Jam’iyyatu Ansarideen.

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the First Lady noted that the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism across Africa and the Sahel not only undermines peace and national security but also erodes the social and moral fabric of communities.

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She said it also disrupts access to education, especially for children and youths in the affected areas.

Mrs. Tinubu noted that while the Federal Government was confronting the threats, it was crucial to recognise that Islam, like all great faiths, preaches peace, justice, compassion and knowledge.

“The manipulation of religion to justify violence and intolerance is a distortion that must be challenged through knowledge, engagement, and moral leadership,” the First Lady said.

“Here, Islamic organisations have a profound role to play by promoting authentic religious understanding, supporting inclusive education and empowering youths with values of tolerance and coexistence, and standing as vital partners in the prevention of violent extremism.”

Senator Tinubu said the five key thematic areas chosen for the conference resonate well with what Nigeria is doing on almajiri education.

She said the Federal Government has developed a policy on almajiri, which examines the challenges in almajari education, ways and solutions to eradicate those challenges.

Mrs. Tinubu said the conference provided a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between governments, third-party organisations, and educational institutions.

“Together we can advance a regional strategy that strengthens community resilience, rebuilds trust, and ensures that the voices of moderation and knowledge prevail over those of hatred and ignorance.

“Let us remember that the fight against violent extremism is not only a battle of arms, but also a battle of ideas and education. A battle of ideas and education remains our strongest weapon,” she added.

• Family values key to nation’s security, say Sultan, Kukah

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has warned that the erosion of family values is fueling insecurity and social vices across the country.

Mrs. Tinubu spoke at the opening of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State.

The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, urged families to reclaim their role as the foundation of society.

Speaking to the theme of the event: Family and National Security, the First Lady noted that many parents, in the struggle to survive, have abandoned their primary duty of raising children, leaving them vulnerable to negative influences, such as cultism, drug abuse, prostitution, and extremist ideologies.

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“This parental absence creates a void, which often gets filled by bad company and destructive behaviour. The outcome is not only catastrophic for families but also dangerous for national security,” she said.

According to her, the family remains the bedrock of society, where Nigerians of different tribes, religions, and traditions first learn values of love, respect, sacrifice and duty.

“A strong family builds a strong nation,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu, who was the keynote address speaker, also underscored the role of religion in strengthening morals and unity.

The First Lady urged religious and traditional leaders to intensify efforts in teaching young people the right principles of faith and reinforcing positive values.

She assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on supporting families, citing the scaled-up Conditional Cash Transfer programme, which will deliver N25,000 in three tranches to 15 million vulnerable households.

Mrs. Tinubu promised that her Renewed Hope Initiative would continue to complement the government’s interventions to uplift Nigerian families and promote stability.

“I urge us all to go forward from Exercise Haske Biyu stronger, more united and mindful of why we serve: for family, for love of country, and for a more secure tomorrow,” she said, before declaring the three-week training exercise open.

The Commandant of the AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, described Exercise Haske Biyu as a bold, multi-agency initiative designed to sharpen responses to internal security and low-intensity conflicts.

He said the exercise, which started yesterday and will run till October 3, brings together senior officers from security agencies, ministries, NGOs, the media, and strategic partners to build synergy and develop practical solutions to contemporary threats.

Highlights of the programme included strategic lectures, operational planning drills, case studies, and practical field demonstrations, as well as an interactive “Day in the Life of a Soldier” for civilian participants.

Alhaji explained that the family-security theme was deliberately chosen to remind participants that the battle against insecurity begins at home.

The commandant expressed optimism that the outcomes of the event would strengthen collaboration among agencies and produce actionable strategies for tackling insecurity in Nigeria.

Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Kukah, have said family values are essential for ensuring Nigeria’s security and building a peaceful, resilient nation.

The duo spoke at the opening of Exercise Haske Biyu 2025 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State.

Kukah’s paper, titled: Relationship Between Family Dynamics and National Security, was delivered on his behalf by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab.

The Sultan of Sokoto restated the importance of family as the foundation of national security.

He said: “The smallest yet most important building block of society is the family. Weak families produce weak communities, while strong families sustain peaceful and resilient nations.”

The Sultan noted that the most values shaping security and culture are acquired in early childhood within the family, long before schools or other institutions exert their influence.

“The world has not and will never invent anything to replace the family,” he said.

Tracing the lessons learnt from history, Abubakar recalled the way of life in the Sokoto Caliphate.

The Sultan said Sheikh Abdullahi’s writings on child-rearing served as the social policy of the Caliphate, demonstrating that strong family values underpin governance and societal stability.

He warned that corruption, illicit wealth, and negative influences from technology and social media are eroding family discipline and exposing children to online dangers, undermining moral upbringing.

To address these challenges, Abubakar called for stronger marriage advisory councils, a review of basic education curricula to promote values, effective drug control, and regulation of harmful digital content.

He also urged governments to ensure that no child is left out of school, and to properly fund institutions addressing out-of-school children.

Kukah described the family as the foundation of any society, saying the socialisation and formation of values in children begin at home.

“Many parents, due to several factors, are unable to raise their children to be responsible citizens,” he said.

The cleric traced youth radicalisation in Nigeria to a defective family upbringing.

He explained that other factors contributing to youth unrest include a lack of access to formal education, disinterest in schooling, and the growing desire for quick money.

Kukah stressed that these issues make family upbringing a critical factor that cannot be ignored.

Citing Proverbs 22:6, Rev. Hayab said: “‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ This timeless wisdom underscores the vital role of family in shaping character, values, and discipline in children.”

According to him, a stable family environment fosters security, trust, and cooperation, helping children to develop emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills that are essential for societal stability.

Families that exemplify healthy conflict management, he added, produce individuals who cultivate tolerance, patience, and kindness regardless of origin or creed.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on traditional rulers across the country to lend their voices and influence toward the total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis. 

Speaking in Ibadan during her visit to the Oyo State Council of Traditional Rulers, the First Lady stressed that these health challenges could be tackled more effectively through the active involvement of cultural custodians and other key stakeholders.

Senator Tinubu, who was in the state to commission a new Community ICT Centre under the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), described FGM as a harmful traditional practice that has persisted largely due to cultural acceptance. 

She lamented its high prevalence in South-West Nigeria and emphasized the role traditional rulers can play in dismantling the cultural endorsement of the practice.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said: “The continued existence of FGM and the spread of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis are public health crises that thrive on ignorance and silence. 

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“Our revered traditional rulers have the moral authority to shift these harmful narratives and promote healthier, more informed communities.”

The First Lady further urged the monarchs to intensify efforts in promoting awareness and preventive education among the youth, particularly on sexually transmitted infections. 

She emphasised the importance of grassroots engagement and sustained advocacy to ensure that these threats are confronted with cultural sensitivity and communal support.

Later in the day, Senator Tinubu inaugurated a state-of-the-art Community ICT Center located at Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan. 

The center, established by NITDA in collaboration with her Renewed Hope Initiative, is the third of its kind to be commissioned under the digital inclusion project.

Describing the project as a landmark in the administration’s broader agenda to empower citizens through digital literacy, the First Lady highlighted the center’s potential to transform lives, particularly among women and youth.

“This center marks another milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to bridge the digital divide. 

“ICT knowledge empowers communities—especially women—to break traditional barriers, pursue education, and access opportunities in the global digital economy”, she said. 

She also disclosed that the fourth center in Benue State is nearing completion, and similar centers have been equipped in Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Niger, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. 

Additional centers in ten more states—including Abia, Delta, Edo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Yobe, and Zamfara—are expected to be commissioned soon.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who joined the First Lady at the commissioning, lauded the federal intervention, stating that the initiative aligns with the state’s drive to encourage technology-driven economic diversification and youth innovation.

Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, urged beneficiaries of the centre to take full advantage of the facility. 

“This is more than just a building with computers; it is a gateway for Nigerians to compete globally,” he said.

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, encouraged the center’s management to make the facility accessible to the wider community. 

He also revealed that ICT skill acquisition has been integrated into the school curriculum to align with President Tinubu’s mandate of closing the national digital gap.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has flagged off the distribution of professional kits to midwives in the North East as part of a broader initiative by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to boost healthcare delivery and economic empowerment across the country.

Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony in Jalingo, Taraba State, the First Lady emphasized that the demands of the health profession go beyond skill and compassion, highlighting the need for adequate tools and infrastructure to support frontline workers.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said: “The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is moving in the right direction to make healthcare delivery better in this country. 

“We recognise that midwives play a critical role in reducing maternal and child mortality, and they deserve not just our praise, but our practical support.”

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According to Tinubu, the RHI has procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs as incentives for midwives across the country. 

Each geopolitical zone will receive 10,000 scrubs and 10,000 pairs of crocs, with the North East receiving its allocation at the event.

“This event is to complement the Federal Government’s retraining of 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide. Already, over 59,000 have completed their training. 

“We must continue to encourage our health workers for their tireless service, and I commend the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, and Dr. Muyi Aina of the NPHCDA for their leadership”, she noted. 

Beyond healthcare, the First Lady also announced a N50 million grant for 1,000 women petty traders in Taraba State as part of RHI’s Small Business Recapitalization programme. 

She disclosed that the Taraba State Government, through Governor Agbu Kefas had pledged to match the grant for an additional 1,000 beneficiaries.

“In the spirit of today’s event, another N50 million will be presented to the First Lady of Delta State to support 1,000 petty traders in her state as well,” Tinubu added.

Kefas lauded the initiative, saying it reflects a growing transformation in Nigeria’s health sector. 

“We are seeing gradual, deliberate improvements in healthcare and life expectancy, and it’s encouraging,” he said.

Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the gaps in healthcare access and affordability, particularly for women and children, saying “we value our nurses and midwives and urge them to continue their excellent work”.

During the event, professional kits were officially handed over to the wives of governors from the North East states by the First Lady in her capacity as National Chairman of the RHI. 

The N50 million business grant was presented to the wife of Taraba Governor, Mrs. Agayin Kefas.

Tinubu held a meeting with the Taraba Council of Emirs and Chiefs, led by the Aku Uka of Wukari. 

She sought their support in the ongoing campaign against HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Syphilis, and Tuberculosis, stressing the importance of community involvement in health advocacy.

Since its inception in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has implemented targeted interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social investment to improve the lives of families across Nigeria.