The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu got a rousing welcome during her visit to Osogbo, Osun State capital penultimate Tuesday.
It was the first time she would be visiting the state First Lady of Nigeria.
She was in the state to preside over the sod-turning ceremony for the Alternative High Schools for Girls, Osogbo.
Giving his speech during the event that was held at Oke Dio, Ayepe, Osogbo, Governor Ademola Adeleke who commended the First Lady’s years of dedicated public service noted that he was happy to host ‘a woman of virtue and an Amazon who is the political pillar of our dear President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’.
‘Your antecedents and your passion for public service are known to some of us. We have worked with you at close quarters and I can confirm that you are one of the best of sisterhood in the country.
As your colleague in the Senate in those days, I can affirm your deep love for Nigeria, your commitment to national human development and your particular interest in the welfare of under-privileged Nigerians. I was therefore not surprised when you assumed office and you unveiled several initiatives in support of girl children and the poor.
In your passion for the growth of the nation, you are also known for focusing on fairness and justice. For us in Osun State, we are here today because we are a beneficiary of your sense of justice. During the raffle for the citing of this school you picked Osun, you did not shift the goal posts. We commend you for granting Osun this rare opportunity of hosting this very important school’, the governor added.
While assuring the First Lady that his administration will follow up and provide needed support to ensure a robust operation upon completion of the school project, Governor Adeleke assured that his administration is also committed to supporting girl child education.
‘We have introduced a series of programmes which strengthen the capacity of families to provide basic needs. Hence, we emphasize welfare of workers as a critical first line item in our five-point agenda.
We also focus on stopping the crisis of sexual violence against women. To that end, Osun is the first state to implement the resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Action Against sexual violence. We have met with officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and resolved to set up mobile courts to try domestic and sexual violence matters. Additionally, we are compiling the list of unfairly jailed girls and women to get them released. This is in addition to an agenda of empowering the womenfolk through the Cooperative lawn scheme.
Osun State is undergoing total transformation with women at the heart of our agenda. We assure you of our support for the Renewed Hope Agenda especially our deep partnership to ensure the success of federal policies for a better Nigeria. We appreciate current policies of the Federal Government and we are daily interfacing with federal agencies for successful outcomes’, he submitted.
Mrs Remi Tinubu in her address commended the warm reception accorded her by the government and people of Osun State while stating her decade long passion for special schools for young girls, and restating her commitment to ensuring full implementation of the project across the country.
The First Lady who was full of praise for the First Lady of Osun State, Mrs. Titilola Adeleke said the Alternative High School for Girls was her response to the yawning gap in girls’ education, decrying the high number of out of school children in the country.
Mrs Tinubu, who had earlier met with traditional rulers led by Ooni of Ife, HRM, Enitan Ogunwusi said Osun is selected for the girls’ school and adopted with full expectation that the state government will expand the model and deepen girl child education in the state.
The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education, Dr Ahmed Bobboi in his speech hailed the contribution of the Adeleke administration to the growth and development of universal basic education in the state.
According to him, the administration’s record enhances the confidence of UBEC and the Office of the First Lady that the new school will realize its targets and even surpass it.
Mrs Tinubu was accompanied by first ladies of 11 states, the wife of the Vice President, the wife of the Senate President, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the wife of the Chief of Staff to Mr President and other top women leaders across the country.
