Oluremi Tinubu ends Kwara visit, praises development strides

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, concluded her three-day working visit to Kwara State on Thursday with a tour of the Garment Factory, the largest of its kind in the country and a signature project of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

During her visit, she urged workers at the factory to seize the opportunities provided by the government to build successful careers. Addressing them in Yoruba, she encouraged hard work and dedication before handing each worker a stipend of N20,000.

Her departure from the Gen. Tunde Idiagbon International Airport marked the end of a visit that focused on launching key projects, inaugurating infrastructural developments, and advancing her humanitarian initiatives.

The First Lady led the launch of the Free to Shine campaign, an initiative by the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFLAD) aimed at curbing new HIV infections and improving maternal health. The programme seeks to prevent mother-to-child transmission and expand treatment access for affected children.

She highlighted Nigeria’s high burden of HIV, particularly among women and children, attributing it to population growth and other socio-economic factors. To complement the initiative, she announced plans to advocate for the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Governor AbdulRazaq pledged the support of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in raising awareness, mobilising resources, and ensuring continued care for people living with HIV. He also noted recent shifts in global HIV/AIDS policies and funding, stressing the need for swift local action to mitigate their impact.

UNICEF and WHO representatives commended Nigeria’s commitment to tackling HIV/AIDS and reaffirmed their partnership in achieving elimination targets. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, noted that at least 1.5 million Nigerians are currently receiving HIV treatment, reflecting significant progress compared to two decades ago.

One of the major highlights of the visit was Oluremi Tinubu’s N350 million donation to support the Sugar Factory Film Studio, a state-backed initiative aimed at reviving local cultural storytelling through cinema. The First Lady praised Governor AbdulRazaq for his vision in promoting the creative industry, stating that the project aligns with her commitment to cultural preservation.

During her visit, the First Lady commissioned several projects initiated by the AbdulRazaq administration, including an ultramodern Intensive Care Unit and the Dr. Amuda Aluko Ward, the Tunde Idiagbon Flyover and Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari Flyover, a newly remodelled Flower Garden, where she attended a symbolic dinner, as well as an ICT Community Centre, executed by NITDA in collaboration with her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oluremi Tinubu Hospital, a flagship health project in the state, and visited the Ilorin Innovation Hub, which has attracted partnerships from tech giant IHS Towers and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

As she departed Kwara, the First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to supporting national development initiatives, while Governor AbdulRazaq praised her for championing causes that uplift vulnerable groups and strengthen key sectors across Nigeria.