The wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi, has described Nigeria as a work in progress, asserting that the country is on course for significant transformation under her husband’s administration, especially with critical internal and external support.
She made this remark while receiving Spouses of Heads of Missions to Nigeria in her office.
Mrs Tinubu noted that the nation has been experiencing gradual yet steady progress, which she believes will be sustained to achieve greater impact.
She also highlighted her efforts through the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)’, aimed at improving education for Nigerian children, enhancing healthcare, and uplifting the livelihoods of the average citizen.
Addressing the issue of Almajiri children, she reiterated that the challenge is not insurmountable and requires collective action for a lasting solution.
She said: “When you said you would like to educate all of us, that would be great. Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, and that is a huge number. We have about 18.5 million of this group not having any formal education at all; these are children looking for Islamic education; we are still looking at that, and the weight alone is something else.
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“As you said, taking one day at a time matters; we cannot say that just because the challenges are huge does not mean that they cannot be surmountable. The type of school we are planning and proposing for them is like a boarding school because these children are the ones you see outside begging with plates in their hands begging for food, but they are not beggars. They just came for the master’s knowledge and did not have food to eat.
“Anybody that is God fearing will shun crime; some of these children were molested. Therefore, we are looking at what we can do, and we are quite hopeful and taking huge steps as well to help them. Talking about the out-of-school children, the challenge is quite daunting, but we are doing whatever we can, and we are also looking for assistance wherever we can get one, and it looks promising”.
She thanked the visiting group for their continuous support of Nigerian women and children, emphasizing that women form the foundation of great nations.
The wife of the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Sigalit Freeman, who led two other members of the Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission—the wives of the Guinea-Bissau and Canadian ambassadors—commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her dedication, not only as Nigeria’s First Lady but also in her previous roles as a legislator and the wife of a governor.
Mrs Freeman noted that the group’s visit was in recognition of Mrs Tinubu’s commitment to improving the well-being of vulnerable groups in the country and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
She further explained that one of the group’s key objectives is to ensure that all Nigerians, especially women and children, have access to education.
“Every year, we have become more active and trying to fulfil the purpose of the mission, and in our group, we are working with different organisations like widows organisation, schools with kids, the hospitals here in Abuja and together, we are trying to do the best for the people that are admitted in the hospitals.
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“For this year, we decided to choose an NGO that is focusing on education, and we hope that together with you, the First Lady, we can fulfil our mission in our group”.
“We are trying to do our best to bring education to the kids in Nigeria; this is what we want; it may take up to three to five years; we are following you; we are seeing what you are doing for your people in education for kids and women in Nigeria”.
As part of their plans in this regard, the group is set to host a Gala towards raising resources for this.
