Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, says the country will continue to harness its human and natural resources, noting that Nigeria has much to offer its citizens and the rest of the world.
Mrs Tinubu made the remark in Abuja in an interview with Journalists, shortly after she met with wives of Governors of the 36 States at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said; “We are a very proud nation and outsiders are happy with what we are doing. Look at Temilade Openiyi popularly known as Tems, and what she did during Obama centre, look at Dora Akunyili’s daughter, a medical Doctor who made history as the first Physician to be appointed Chief Medical Officer at the Jersey City Medical Centre in the United States.
“Look at Akwete business, a hand woven textile craft found in Abia State as well as the dye pit in Kano which has been there for over 200 years. All these sites are our national treasures and heritage and these are the things we can get recognition for.”
The First Lady also unveiled fresh steps by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to expand food banks, nutrition support and community interventions for vulnerable families across the country, saying “children in all parts of the country must not be allowed to go hungry.”
“Our children are not supposed to be going hungry. No matter what, when you see a child that is malnourished in your state, you have to take them and make sure that they are properly cared for,” she told the Wives of the Governors.
She explained that the food banks being rolled out under RHI would be located near primary health care centres to make it easier for families to access nutrition support alongside medical care.
“These food banks are built next to the primary health care centres so that the ones that need supplement can get their supplements, lactating mothers and pregnant women too will be given food items from the food bank and also,” the First lady said
Massive Support
Mrs Tinubu said the project was being strengthened through support from donors and partner agencies, including the Bank of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dangote and the National Population Commission. She said the support would help build and sustain food banks across the states.
“What we have done so far is to come up with the strategy which for me is a very good example.
“It is now left for the first ladies to take it upon themselves and make sure that the states have more food banks because our children are not supposed to be going hungry,” Mrs Tinubu stated.
She said the effort is part of a broader social investment agenda under RHI, which also covers education, scholarships, economic empowerment and environmental campaigns.
According to her, “the programme is meant to create lasting impact beyond the current administration.”
“What we are doing in this administration is to make sure that even generations unborn would benefit,” she said.
The First Lady urged State Governors and their Spouses to do more to identify and support malnourished children early.
She said; On the wider nutrition strategy, she stressed the importance of linking food support with health interventions for women and children…These food banks are built next to the primary health care centres. The model would help pregnant women to arrest that malnutrition when they are pregnant.”
Mrs Tinubu further called for more donations, disclosing that she had personally contributed N500 million to the food-bank drive, while the wives of governors had N40 million.
She further stated that her previous interventions included N2 billion for tuberculosis, N1 billion for breast cancer and N500 million for food malnutrition.
Mrs Tinubu said the RHI Green Nigeria Challenge, scholarships, storybook distribution and other initiatives remain on course, but insisted that the fight against hunger among children must remain central.
She also reiterated that the reforms being pursued by President Bola Tinubu’s administration are aimed at building “lasting legacies” that would benefit generations yet unborn, even as she urged Nigerians to adjust to the changing realities of the economy.
She described her role as well as that of the Governors’ wives as “only performing a supportive role.”
Practical Benefits
The Wife of the President said the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was created to help states multiply whatever support they receive and translate it into practical benefits for citizens.
“As mothers in the nation, all I do is just coordinate them (Wives of Governors). That’s why we brought RHI on board, so that every state, whatever trickles down, they are supposed to multiply it,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu said the administration’s policies, including subsidy removal, had been difficult but necessary.
She explained that “the government is focused on changing the way Nigerians thinks about work, jobs and enterprise. “Now, everyone has to know the way of doing business is different.
“The way we do business now is just quite different.”
The First Lady said many young people still expect government jobs, even though opportunities are now more likely to come through ministries, agencies and digital application platforms.
She said; “We have to inform the youth. You say there are no jobs? Have you visited any ministry to even say, oh, what do you have for the people?
“They can go there. They can’t go to Mr. President’s office, but they can go to all the ministries’ agencies.”
Mrs Tinubu said the government has made notable gains in agriculture, empowerment and social investment. She cited support for small businesses, grants for market women and a growing push for food security.
She used the opportunity to encourage Nigerians to value local culture and food products.
“We have a very, very proud culture. And I think this is high time we started promoting ourselves and this nation. We have what it takes to do that,” she said.
On economic empowerment, Mrs Tinubu said RHI has reached tens of thousands of beneficiaries across different states through grants and support programmes.
