Tinubu’s wife urges Nigeria-based Turks to learn local languages

Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, says citizens of Turkiye based in Nigeria should learn any of the major local languages as a way to integrate with the society.

“Turkish citizens here should also learn some of our languages,” said Tinubu when she visited the Yunus Emre Institute, Maitama, Abuja, at the invitation of the First Lady of the Republic of Turkiye, Mrs. Emine Erdogan, on Tuesday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Mrs. Busola Kukoyi, disclosed details of Tuesday’s outing in a statement titled ‘First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urges youths to believe in themselves.’

She called on youths to be focused positively and set their minds on creative things.

Established by the Turkish Government, the institute trains Nigerians in creative arts and other aspects of cultural exchange between the two countries.

Mrs. Tinubu said, “This centre provides great opportunities for you to live your dreams as artists.

“You are not only learning about Turkey but also actualisons your dreams.

“Believe in what you are doing, and as long as you set your mind to it, you will succeed. Dream big but do not despise the days of humble beginnings.”

The First Lady, who inspected some of the paintings exhibited by the Nigerian artists at the centre, expressed her delight at the level of creativity while admonishing them to express more positivity in their creative works.

She also visited the classroom of some of the children from an orphanage who are undergoing formal education courtesy of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria.

“I see this as a step towards granting our children scholarships just as we have with the Republic of Belarus,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu thanked her Turkish counterpart, Erdoğan, for her presence at the recently concluded OIC High-Level Seminar on Cancer Awareness hosted by Nigeria and also for inviting her to visit the centre.

“I appreciate the First Lady for all the work she is doing for Africa and also for identifying Africa as the rising sun and light,” she said.

Earlier, the Ambassador to Turkey in Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, while welcoming the First Lady to the centre, noted the collaborative efforts between the two nations, especially in the area of cultural exchange and education.

He said, “Our relations have been growing especially in economic issues. We have very good political relations as well.

“One of the aspects of these relations is, of course, the cultural aspects of these two countries.

“One of the aims of this Institute is that the Nigerian students that are learning Turkish will have the opportunity of working in Turkish companies, when they come to establish here and even when they go to Turkey.”

The Ambassador expressed optimism of a more robust relation between the countries.

Tuesday’s meeting comes three months after the First Lady visited the Republic to launch two High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Nigerian Navy.

Since Nigeria and Turkiye established diplomatic ties in 1962, both nations have intensified partnerships buoyed by mutual interests in expanding trade, military cooperation, and educational exchanges.

Turkey sees Nigeria as a pivotal partner in Africa, given its significant population and economic potential, while Nigeria benefits from Turkey’s technological advancements and investment.

In December 2021, Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari visited Turkiye to attend the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.

Two months earlier, in October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Nigeria as part of a three-nation African tour.

The visit led to the signing of eight major agreements covering energy, mining, defence and counter-terrorism.