First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has emphasized that Africa’s future prosperity depends on its rich history, vibrant cultures, and, most importantly, the strength of its people—particularly women and youth.
Speaking at the 29th General Assembly of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in Addis Ababa, she reaffirmed her commitment to closing the gender gap and empowering women and young people in Nigeria and across the continent.
She made these remarks in her capacity as a member of the Steering Committee of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the highest decision-making body of the organization.
Western Post reported that she was recently elected as an OAFLAD member, which will enable her to represent West Africa on the eight-member committee alongside Sierra Leone’s First Lady, who was elected as the new President of OAFLAD.
The 29th OAFLAD General Assembly, convened under the theme “Building on Beijing: First Ladies Championing Women’s Leadership and Rights through African Heritage,” marks a crucial moment in Africa’s ongoing efforts to advance gender equality, three decades after the historic Beijing Women’s Conference of 1995.
“This year marks three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration,” she said, referencing the landmark global commitment to women’s rights.
“The impact of this declaration is evident in the remarkable progress Nigerian women have made, emerging from our villages to big cities and even the world stage. Their contributions span across diverse fields, from education to health, science, technology, politics, music, the fashion industry, business, and finance.”
Despite these strides, she acknowledged persistent challenges, including gender-based violence, child marriage, and limited access to education and healthcare for women and girls.
She stressed that addressing these issues requires strong partnerships and strategic action.
“As we progress with #WeAreEqualInAction, I am committed to advocacy, resource mobilization, and fostering partnerships to close the gender gap and boost women and youth empowerment in Nigeria,” she stated.
As a new member of OAFLAD’s Steering Committee, she pledged to align her efforts with the organization’s 2025-2030 Strategic Framework, ensuring that Nigerian women and youth benefit from initiatives in education, social welfare, economic empowerment, agriculture, and health.
One of her key initiatives, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has already made strides in healthcare. She highlighted the procurement of 60,000 professional kits for midwives to support the federal government’s retraining program for 120,000 health workers—an effort aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes. In addition, she launched the Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign, targeting the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis.
Beyond health, Tinubu also announced plans to partner with Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment to reintroduce the Environmental Climate Change Club in schools, ensuring young people are actively engaged in climate awareness.
Other speakers at the General Assembly, including top officials from the African Union and the United Nations, echoed her call for urgent action to promote women’s leadership and secure a better future for Africa’s youth.
They also highlighted a pressing $16 billion funding gap that needs to be addressed to sustain ongoing development programs.
