First Lady urges Nigerians to reconsider protest

Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to reconsider protests scheduled for August 1-10, saying the current administration is working round the clock to make the country work.

Mrs Tinubu, who said the country is still grappling with the aftershocks of the #EndSARS protests of 2020, asked youths to be proactive and creative to leverage the opportunities in Nigeria.

“But I pray that they (protesters) would reconsider and don’t make life difficult for those who are still having quite a challenging life,” the First Lady said when she met with Governors’ Wives at the quarterly meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting highlighted upcoming activities and frontiers of collaboration with the relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies.

Her appeal came hours before the nationwide protests against the rising cost of living, slated for August 1 – 10, 2024. The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, has gained traction on social media and is scheduled to occur in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

However, the First Lady called for patience, asking protest organisers to reconsider their stance.

“I will appeal to them to be patient. We didn’t come here playing. We came here to work because I know we will leave this place one day, and I want to go to a Nigeria that will not be a burden to me.

“I’ll be much older, and I want to make sure that I rest in a very conducive and nice atmosphere. And that’s what we’re doing. They (protesters) shouldn’t obstruct all those people who depend on their daily living. So I appeal to them and I pray they’ll see reasons.

“If they’re trying to be disruptive, then it is left between them and the law…What people don’t realise is that when we’re drumming for things (protests) like this, we don’t know the backlash and what will happen after,” She said.

Mrs Tinubu argued that Nigeria had gained considerable respect in the community of nations, as evidenced by the growing interest of international partners in legitimate business opportunities in Nigeria.

Therefore, she urged the youth to be proactive and innovative in seizing these opportunities, highlighting the importance of creativity and engagement in driving economic growth.

“This government has been working day and night to make sure that this country is put back on its feet. What Nigerians don’t know is that…you see, the respect we have now as Nigerians in the international community is higher than what we’ve had in the past.

“People want to do business with Nigeria legitimately now because they know all the cards are on the table. And that will create jobs. So, our youth should try to engage themselves, be creative, and do more.

“So everybody has to be creative, our youth have to be seen doing something, nobody’s going even to encourage and put money into the pocket of somebody who is not doing anything,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “There are so many opportunities in Nigeria. People made lots of money during COVID just by making sanitisers, creating different things that people could use at that time.”

“The opportunities are there. It is not what it used to be. People have to reach out. And these are things that we’ve done before,” she added.

The First Lady also called for increased youth involvement in agriculture as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

She emphasised the importance of cultivating a culture of farming among young Nigerians, stating, “You can grow what you eat. We’re taking this to the young people now so they can embrace this culture.”

Sharing her personal connection to gardening, Mrs Tinubu recollected her childhood experiences with school farms and her love for fresh scent leaves and lemongrass.

“Why do I want to do the Young Farmers Club? It is about instilling these values early,” she explained.

To support small businesses, the First Lady said her pet project, RHI, has given a grant of N50,000 to petty traders, stating, “It’s not a loan; it is just to help small businesses.”

The First Lady outlined the upcoming activities and collaborations of the Renewed Hope Initiative across various sectors.

She thanked the governors’ wives’ contributions to RHI’s success in their respective states, emphasising that their dedication and hard work have been instrumental.

Mrs. Tinubu also highlighted RHI’s collaborations with government agencies and international organisations in the areas of education, health, agriculture, and economic empowerment.

These partnerships include working with the Federal Ministries of Education, Health, and Agriculture, as well as agencies like UBEC, TETFUND, NPHCDA, and AUDA-NEPAD.

She also announced the imminent unveiling of 200 awardees under the AUDA-NEPAD/RHI Scholarship Programme and the launch of the RHI Women Economic Empowerment Programme for Petty Traders, which will provide N50,000 grants to 1,000 women in each state and the FCT.

Other initiatives discussed include the One Nigeria Unity Fabric competition, where a winner has emerged and production of the winning design into fabrics has begun in earnest with textile manufacturers in Kano and Lagos.

At the meeting, the First Lady led the Governors’ wives to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late music icon, Onyeka Onwenu, who passed away late Tuesday.