First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned protests, giving assurances that the federal government is working hard to return the country to the path of economic prosperity.
The wife of the president made the plea during a meeting with the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting was to outline the “Renewed Hope” initiative’s upcoming activities and collaborations with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.
She maintained that Nigeria’s respect within the international community is higher than it was in the past, stressing the growing interest in legitimate business opportunities in Nigeria.
Mrs. Tinubu noted that international partners are eager to engage with Nigerians, which could lead to job creation. She, therefore, urged the youth to be proactive and innovative in seizing these opportunities.
The First Lady highlighted the importance of creativity and engagement in driving economic growth. She said: “This government has been working day and night to make sure that this country is put back on its feet. What Nigerians don’t realize is that the respect we have now as Nigerians in the international community is higher than what we’ve had in the past.
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“People want to do business with Nigeria legitimately now because they know all cards are on the table. And that will create jobs. So our youth should try to engage themselves, be creative, and do more.”
Mrs. Tinubu expressed concern over the lingering effects of the #EndSARS protests, emphasizing that many people were yet to recover. She urged the youth to be proactive and creative, stating that opportunities abound, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic when many thrived by producing sanitizers and other essential goods. She called for increased engagement and innovation among young Nigerians to harness these opportunities for economic growth.
She further noted: “Lagos has not recovered from #EndSARS and it saddens our hearts. What people don’t realize is that when we’re drumming for things like that, we don’t know the backlash and what will happen afterward.
“So, everybody has to be creative, our youth have to be seen doing something. Nobody’s going to encourage and put money into the pocket of somebody who’s not doing anything.”
Highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit shown during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said: “There are so many opportunities in Nigeria. People made lots of money during COVID just by making sanitizers and 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 there are things that we’ve done before.”
Mrs. Tinubu also called for increased youth involvement in agriculture as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). She emphasized 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.”
The wife of the president shared her personal connection to gardening, recalling 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’s about instilling these values early,” she explained.
To support small businesses, the First Lady said her pet project, RHI, has given grants of N50,000 to petty traders, stating, “It’s not a loan, just to help small businesses.”
She again appealed for unity and cooperation to ensure a better future for all Nigerians.
Mrs. Tinubu said: “I will appeal to them to be patient. We didn’t come here to play. We came here to work because, for one, I know we will leave this place one day, and I want to go into a Nigeria that will not be a burden to me. I’ll be much older, and I want to make sure that I take my rest in a very conducive and nice atmosphere. And that’s what we’re doing.
“If they’re trying to be disruptive, then it’s left between them and the law. But I pray that they would reconsider and not make life difficult for those who are still having quite a challenging life. That’s why we’re putting money into the hands of petty traders, giving them a grant of N50,000.
“It’s not a loan, just to help small businesses. We’ve done that in the past and I see how well it goes. They shouldn’t deprive all those people who depend on their daily living and then try to obstruct that.”
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