On Wednesday, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, urged Nigerians to reconsider the planned protests scheduled for August 1-10, 2024. She emphasised that the current administration is diligently working to improve the country.
Speaking at a quarterly meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the Governors’ Wives at the State House in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria is still dealing with the effects of the 2020 #EndSARS protests. She urged youths to explore opportunities and be creative rather than engaging in protests.
“I pray that they (protesters) would reconsider and not make life difficult for those who are still having quite a challenging life,” Mrs. Tinubu said. She stressed that the government is committed to addressing issues and requested patience from those planning the protests.
She added, “I will appeal to them to be patient. We didn’t come here playing. We came here to work because I know we will leave this place one day, and I want to go to a Nigeria that will not be a burden to me. I’ll be much older, and I want to make sure that I rest in a very conducive and nice atmosphere. And that’s what we’re doing. They (protesters) shouldn’t obstruct all those people who depend on their daily living. So I appeal to them and I pray they’ll see reasons.”
Mrs. Tinubu also noted that Nigeria has gained significant respect internationally, which has attracted legitimate business interest. She encouraged youths to engage creatively and make the most of these opportunities.
“This government has been working day and night to make sure that this country is put back on its feet. What Nigerians don’t know is that…you see, the respect we have now as Nigerians in the international community is higher than what we’ve had in the past. People want to do business with Nigeria legitimately now because they know all the cards are on the table. And that will create jobs. So, our youth should try to engage themselves, be creative, and do more. So everybody has to be creative, our youth have to be seen doing something; nobody’s going even to encourage and put money into the pocket of somebody who is not doing anything,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that many found success by producing items like sanitizers. “There are so many opportunities in Nigeria. People made lots of money during COVID just by making sanitisers, creating different things that people could use at that time. The opportunities are there. It is not what it used to be. People have to reach out. And these are things that we’ve done before,” she added.
The First Lady also called for increased youth participation in agriculture, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s goals. She emphasized the importance of a farming culture among young Nigerians, stating, “You can grow what you eat. We’re taking this to the young people now so they can embrace this culture.”
She shared her personal connection to gardening, reminiscing about her childhood experiences with school farms and her love for fresh herbs. “Why do I want to do the Young Farmers Club? It is about instilling these values early,” she said.
Additionally, Mrs. Tinubu announced that her project, RHI, has provided N50,000 grants to small traders, describing it as support rather than a loan. She also outlined future activities of the Renewed Hope Initiative and thanked the governors’ wives for their contributions.
The initiative involves partnerships with government ministries and international organizations in areas such as education, health, agriculture, and economic empowerment. Upcoming programs include the AUDA-NEPAD/RHI Scholarship Programme, which will award scholarships to 200 students, and the RHI Women Economic Empowerment Programme, offering N50,000 grants to 1,000 women in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
Other initiatives discussed include the One Nigeria Unity Fabric competition, with the winning design currently in production.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs. Tinubu led the Governors’ Wives in a minute of silence to honor the late music icon, Onyeka Onwenu, who passed away on Tuesday.
