Oluremi Tinubu Named Leadership Newspapers’ 2025 Person of the Year, Calls for National Unity

Oluremi Tinubu Named Leadership Newspapers’ 2025 Person of the Year, Calls for National Unity

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has been honoured as the 2025 Person of the Year by Leadership Newspapers, using the occasion to call for greater unity among Nigerians as a foundation for national development and a more prosperous future.

The First Lady received the award at the 18th Leadership Newspapers Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, where she emphasised the importance of collaboration across cultural and religious lines in building a stronger nation.

Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s progress depends on collective effort and shared purpose.

“The future of our nation depends on our willingness to work together, across cultural and religious differences and interests, for the good of all. For a house divided against itself cannot stand. Let us keep working together to realise the Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.

Dedicating the award to her mentors and everyday Nigerians making a difference, the First Lady said she did not see the recognition as a personal achievement.

“I do not take this honour alone. I stand on the shoulders of a lot of people who have mentored and continued to mentor me. This award is for all those who have helped me along the way. It is also for the many Nigerians, especially women, young people and community leaders who work quietly every day to uplift others and ignite hope in our nation,” she stated.

Senator Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Leadership Newspapers, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah, for the honour and for sustaining the vision of the organisation’s founding chairman, the late Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, OFR.

“I celebrate the legacy of the Founding Chairman, Late Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, OFR, whose dreams his best half, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isaiah, has taken to the next level. I believe looking down today, he will be so proud of you for keeping the fire of this organisation burning,” she added.

Delivering a lecture on the theme of the conference, “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria,” the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed, noted that nation-building ultimately rests in the hands of citizens.

She called for deeper democratic governance and increased investment to drive economic sustainability across Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

Chairman of the occasion, Bishop Matthew Kukah, urged the current administration to prioritise the strengthening of institutions as a pathway to achieving sustainable development.

A total of 27 eminent Nigerians and corporate organisations were recognised at the ceremony, which was instituted 18 years ago by the founder of Leadership Newspapers, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah.

The event attracted prominent political leaders, diplomats, business executives and other stakeholders from across the country.