The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has declared that all interventions under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) are not driven by politics or party interests, but by a singular commitment to improving the lives of Nigerian families.
Speaking during an interactive session with traditional rulers and religious leaders in Lagos, Senator Tinubu described the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution as an opportunity to finally define the constitutional role of traditional institutions in national development.
“As custodians of tradition and culture, traditional rulers remain closest to the grassroots. Their influence is critical to community peace, progress, and development,” she said.
The First Lady urged religious and traditional leaders to step up advocacy on tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS testing, and uptake of HPV vaccines for girls.
She also highlighted upcoming RHI programmes, including the Green Nigeria Challenge, a nationwide competition to promote environmental sustainability, and the Flow With Confidence scheme, which will provide one-year supplies of sanitary pads to adolescent girls in rural areas to reduce absenteeism from school.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who praised her efforts, commended RHI’s impact across sectors such as agriculture, where women and youths have been empowered through the Young Farmers’ Club; healthcare, with sustained campaigns against tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and cervical cancer; education, through scholarships and promotion of girl-child education; as well as social investment and economic empowerment programmes.
In his remarks, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, appealed to the First Lady to extend her educational advocacy to boys by promoting alternative schooling pathways.
The First Lady continues her Lagos engagements today, Saturday, August 23, with the RHI/SDG Women Empowerment programme targeting 500 women, and the commissioning of the Lagos State Leather Hub.
