The First Lady Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged the National Assembly to provide backing for the Office of the First Lady both at the Federal and State Levels, just as it is done in the United States.
She pointed out that this will go a long way in improving the ability to impact more than they are presently doing.
She was speaking with Journalists after her 2nd Quarterly Meeting with Wives of State Governors and State Coordinators of her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative at the State House, Abuja.
“On our part, the Renewed Hope Initiative has been able in the last 2 years to do as much as we can for the people with our funds. If we have more, we would impact more. As you can see, we took 47 indigent students and gave them N1m for scholarship, we could have done more.
“We are wives, we want to see our husbands succeed. They are like trees that the branches are perching on. We want to help them as much as we can,” she said.
Speaking further on the impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative in the last 2 Years, the First Lady said the Initiative is mindful and is helping the less privileged.
“We are helping those who are less privileged. Nigeria is a blessed country with a lot of resources and we just need to see how we can harness it.
“We just need to make sure we are doing what we can afford.
“I just want to see what I can do to make society better,” she added.
On the spate of violence in some parts of the country in recent days, Mrs Tinubu described the incidences as evil and unfortunate.
“As mothers and women, we have to pray more for our Nation. The killings in Borno and Plateau States are not new but why are they resurfacing now when the nation is getting better and people are beginning to reckon with us?
“We need prayers. This is evil, very evil. We have to pray more. Whatever we can do for Nigeria, we have to do it,” First Lady.said.
Earlier at the meeting, the First Lady appreciated the Wives of State Governors for their complimentary roles that she said they are well recognized.
She urged them to improve on their advocacy on the campaigns against HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis, Syphilis, TB and Cervical Cancer.
The First Lady also noted that very soon the Flow With Confidence Initiative for adolescent girls in rural areas would be launched with each state getting 10,000 cartons of disposable sanitary towels for onward distribution.
She explained that the Renewed Hope Environment Club/Society would also be unveiled.
The meeting had in attendance the wife of the Vice President, Wife of the Speaker House of Representatives, Wife of the Deputy Senate President and 24 Wives of State Governors
Olusola Akintonde