Daud Olatunji
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerian youths to be hard-working, stating, “There is no food for lazy man.”
She also emphasised that her husband, President Bola Tinubu, should not be blamed for the current economic hardship in Nigeria.
She made this statement on Thursday while speaking at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, noting that the Tinubu administration is still young.
The president’s wife was in Ife to inaugurate a hostel and a 2.7-kilometre road donated to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, by the Ooni of Ife, which was named after her.
“We are just two years into our administration. We are not the cause of the current situation. We are trying to fix it and secure the future,” she said.
“We know that the subsidy has been removed, but with God on our side, in the next two years, Nigeria will be greater than this.
“ Those who attempted removing the subsidy before could not see it through. But with your prayers, in the next two years, we will build a nation for the future.”
She noted that while Nigerians have been facing economic difficulties since the removal of the fuel subsidy, which caused the pump price of petrol to rise from N198 to N1,030, the Tinubu administration is working hard to provide sustainable solutions.
The First Lady further urged Nigerians to also work hard to support themselves while the government continues its efforts to improve the country.
She assured that the administration will do everything possible to ensure Nigerians are not disappointed and called for patience.
“There is no food for lazy men; even God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day,” she said.
“Nigeria is a land flowing with milk and honey, but we need to sustain it for future generations. God has blessed my family before getting to the presidency, and we are content with what we have.
“What is happening in the country is not our doing. We are just two years into the administration, and we are trying to fix the situation and secure the future.
“Nations across the globe want to do business with us, legally, because they know we have a government that is accountable.”
On his part, the Ooni of Ife acknowledged the First Lady’s visit to the ancient city of Ile-Ife and commended the Tinubu administration’s efforts to make Nigeria a better country.
The visit also marked the commissioning of the 2.7-kilometre Oluremi Tinubu Way and Pavilion at OAU, a project built in her honor by the monarch.
Meanwhile, the First Lady has lamented the erosion of the green landscape at OAU and called for urgent efforts to regenerate the environment and restore the beauty of the academic institution.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 2.7-km Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way, the grand pavilion, and the monument on the OAU campus, Tinubu announced a donation of N1 billion towards the restoration of the university’s horticultural landscape.
She recalled the beautiful scenery when she was a student at the institution and blamed poor maintenance for the deterioration.
“I will donate N1 billion for the restoration of the OAU horticultural landscape.
“The campus used to be beautiful when I was here. Ife is crying out for help, and the beauty must be restored,” she said.
The First Lady expressed gratitude to the Ooni for the projects named after her, stating that the event was part of those lined up to celebrate the 50th birthday anniversary of Oba Ogunwusi.
Representing Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi reiterated that the state government remains committed to upgrading infrastructure across the state.
Earlier, the Ooni of Ife said the projects were named after Senator Tinubu in recognition of her contributions to education, women’s empowerment, and national unity.
He praised her for demonstrating leadership and commitment to humanitarian causes.
“A golden statue has been erected to immortalize her virtues and to showcase the strength of a teacher, mother, and wife at the heart of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,” the monarch said.
“Furthermore, a state-of-the-art hostel and a dynamic pavilion have been built, and the construction of a 2.7-km road with solar-powered street lamps, providing an alternative source of light for students, has been completed.
The road, now known as Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way, symbolizes the many paths she has opened for youth, women, and the underprivileged in society.”
He added that the biggest hostel and pavilion in the history of Obafemi Awolowo University, bearing her name, represent her efforts to create spaces for learning, development, and empowerment for all.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
