First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Urges Traditional Rulers to Lead Fight Against FGM, HIV/AIDS, and Other Health Challenges

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Urges Traditional Rulers to Lead Fight Against FGM, HIV/AIDS, and Other Health Challenges

Ibadan, Nigeria – April 29, 2025
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on traditional rulers and community leaders to take an active role in eliminating harmful practices and diseases affecting women and children, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, and Hepatitis.

Speaking in Ibadan during a meeting with the Oyo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Senator Tinubu stressed that the collaboration of royal fathers is crucial to the success of national efforts to eradicate these pressing health and cultural issues. She described the persistent prevalence of FGM in the South West region as deeply concerning and emphasized that the practice could be abolished through advocacy and leadership from traditional institutions.

"Traditional Rulers hold the key to cultural transformation. Your support is vital in promoting public health, protecting the rights of women and girls, and preserving future generations," she said.

Senator Tinubu also appealed to the monarchs to champion awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases, particularly among youths, many of whom are increasingly vulnerable due to misinformation and lack of access to healthcare education.

Following her meeting with the traditional leaders, the First Lady inaugurated a Community ICT Centre located at Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She highlighted the importance of digital empowerment, especially for women and young people, as a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to drive economic diversification through digital innovation and industrialisation.

“The knowledge of ICT is a powerful tool that empowers individuals, especially women, to break traditional barriers, enhance their education, contribute to the global economy, and improve their livelihoods,” Senator Tinubu said.

The ICT Centre in Ibadan is the third to be commissioned under the Renewed Hope Initiative, with additional centers already operational in Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory. The First Lady announced that the next centre, located in Benue State, will soon be commissioned, with ten others nearing completion in various states across the country.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who joined the First Lady at the event, commended the intervention, noting its timeliness in helping Nigerians harness the power of digital tools and artificial intelligence in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Also present at the event was the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who urged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity and prepare to compete globally.

NITDA Director-General, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, encouraged the management of the centre to extend its benefits beyond the school by involving the larger community. He also revealed that ICT skills acquisition programs have now been integrated into school curricula nationwide to support the president’s directive to close Nigeria’s digital divide.

The event underscores the federal government’s multi-pronged approach to national development through health awareness, education, and technology empowerment.