The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to embrace national unity and place the country’s interest above regional affiliations, stressing that the “Think Nigeria First” vision championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lay the foundation for national prosperity.
She made this appeal during an engagement with the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Elsie Attafuah, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Emphasizing the crucial role of youth in shaping Nigeria’s future, the First Lady underscored the need for proper mentorship and strategic investment in young people’s talents and potential.
“Nigeria is a very fertile ground. We can see how Nigerian youth are doing great in so many areas,” she said.
“Push yourself, rise and do something. I believe the best is yet to come for this country.”
Senator Tinubu highlighted that her intervention through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) is focused on youth and women empowerment, as well as social investments, and expressed readiness to collaborate with the UNDP to scale up impact in these sectors.
In her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Attafuah, expressed the agency’s interest in working closely with the First Lady and acknowledged her impact, particularly in youth engagement. She highlighted several UNDP initiatives aligned with national goals, including:
The Nigeria First Initiative supporting small and medium-sized entrepreneurs,
The creation of an Export Lab to boost confidence in Made-in-Nigeria products,
University Innovation Pods to foster technology innovation across all 36 states in 36 months,
And the provision of mini-grids and solar energy to power health facilities.
“Your efforts have caught the attention of UNDP, and the agency is here to strengthen your hands with a new initiative tagged Made in Nigeria, designed to promote Nigerian brand and innovation among the 40 million Nigerians engaged in SMEs,” Attafuah stated.
“The bold initiatives and reforms of President Bola Tinubu are unprecedented, and we appreciate him, especially for the transformative tax reform bills.”
Earlier, Senator Tinubu also received the outgoing Country Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ms. Cristiane Munduate. The First Lady thanked her for her support, particularly in the area of birth registration, which she described as foundational to child protection and development.
She further revealed that plans are underway through her Initiative to support children and families affected by recent violent clashes in Benue and Plateau States and the devastating flooding in Mokwa, Niger State.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu reiterated her commitment to building strong partnerships that will energize, empower, and uplift Nigerians—especially women and youth—through inclusive national development.
