The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated the “Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre” at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, to serve as a role model and case study for younger girls.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Tinubu said her ambition was to provide young girls with the guidance and inspiration she lacked in her generation. “They talk about the girl child all the time, but nowadays people no longer have role models. We live in an age where, even when people are doing well, out of envy, many untrue things are said about them on the internet,” she said.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre was built by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). It is designed to combine digital technology, artificial intelligence, and storytelling to preserve history and inspire future generations.
Tinubu highlighted the importance of dreaming positively, sharing that she had aspired to be a teacher from a young age and eventually achieved that goal. She explained that the Dream Centre would feature a storytelling room where she would share her life experiences, along with a library offering free, accessible learning materials for boys and girls.
“This centre is not for girls alone; it is also for boys. We have books and materials that we brought in. Some will be given out for free, while others will be kept in a small library where you can read and leave,” she said.
NITDA Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi described the centre as a unique initiative that preserves history while equipping young people with tools to navigate their lives. Oba Ogunwusi praised the First Lady’s dedication to educational development, noting that the centre would safeguard her legacy for generations to come.
The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Bamire, also commended the collaborative efforts of the Ooni, the First Lady, and NITDA in establishing the centre, which aims to foster education, empowerment, and inspiration for Nigerian youths.
