Oluremi Tinubu Urges Burna Boy, Davido, Asake to Support the Poor Through Charitable Foundations

 Oluremi Tinubu Urges Burna Boy, Davido, Asake to Support the Poor Through Charitable Foundations

Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on wealthy Nigerians, particularly top entertainers such as Burna Boy, Davido and Asake, to establish charitable foundations to support vulnerable citizens, stressing that government alone cannot shoulder the nation's growing social welfare needs.

The First Lady made the appeal on Saturday during the launch of the North Central National Community Food Bank in Lokoja, Kogi State, where she emphasised the importance of philanthropy in tackling poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.

According to her, many affluent Nigerians have the financial capacity to make meaningful contributions to society but need to prioritise charitable giving.

"We have a lot of wealthy people, but our priorities are different. It is high time we started helping those who need help in the country," she said.

Addressing prominent figures in the entertainment industry, Senator Tinubu said: "The Burna Boys of this world, Asake, Davido and others, we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money."

She noted that several international entertainers combine successful careers with humanitarian work and urged Nigerian celebrities to emulate such examples.

The First Lady also encouraged Nigerians not to look down on legitimate small-scale businesses, describing small and medium enterprises as the backbone of the nation's economy.

She narrated the story of a university graduate who resorted to street vending after failing to secure formal employment. According to her, after receiving support, the young entrepreneur expanded the business and now employs about 12 people.

"Our people should never despise small jobs," she said.

As part of the visit, Senator Tinubu announced a donation of ₦100 million through the Renewed Hope Initiative to the Office of the First Lady of Kogi State. The fund will provide ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 petty traders to boost their businesses.

She commended the beneficiaries, noting that the trays of pepper, tomatoes, okra and other produce they displayed during her visit reflected the value of embracing small-scale enterprise.

Speaking on the National Community Food Bank Programme, the First Lady described it as a deliberate and sustainable intervention aimed at addressing food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households.

She explained that the initiative targets children under the age of six, pregnant women and nursing mothers, while aligning with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, healthcare and national development.

According to her, the programme is being implemented through a partnership involving the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Bank of Agriculture.

Earlier, Senator Tinubu met with the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, urging them to champion the Food Bank Programme and ensure that food assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable children and mothers.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the Renewed Hope Initiative to implementing programmes that improve the living conditions of Nigerian families.

In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, praised the First Lady's interventions across the country, describing them as evidence of her genuine commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic reforms, saying the President took difficult but necessary decisions to prevent the nation's economy from collapsing.

During her one-day working visit to Kogi State, the First Lady commissioned the Oluremi Tinubu Pension and Treasury House, the Lokogoma Primary Healthcare Centre, which also serves as a food distribution point, and the new office complex of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency.