As the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, accepted an award at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards 2025 in Abuja on Thursday, she urged for national unity, service, and shared purpose.
Nigeria’s future rests on its ability to stay unified in the face of mounting internal and international problems, Mrs. Tinubu said in a speech that mixed appreciation with a passionate call for unity across political, cultural, and religious divisions.
“Our readiness to cooperate across cultural and religious divides for the benefit of all is essential to the future of our country. Because it is impossible for a home divided against itself to survive,” she remarked.
The Leadership Newspaper board honored the First Lady at the start of the year, and she characterized the honor as a collective acknowledgement rather than an individual accomplishment.
She addressed a group that included former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Dr. Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, governors, MPs, traditional rulers, and high-ranking government officials, saying, “I do not take this honor alone.”
She went on to say, “This award is for everyone who has supported me along the way, especially women, young people, and community leaders who put in countless hours every day to inspire others and spark hope in our country.”
Mrs. Tinubu praised Mrs. Zainab Nda-Isaiah, the chairman of Leadership Newspaper, for upholding and advancing the goals of the late Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, the organization’s founding chairman.
She praised the newspaper’s dedication to journalism that informs, inspires, and upholds democracy, saying, “I believe that looking down today, he would be proud of you for keeping the fire of this organization burning.”
Along with other high-ranking federal officials and traditional leaders, she also acknowledged the attendance of governors from the states of Imo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Amina Mohammed, received particular recognition from the First Lady, who called her keynote speech “timely and insightful.”
She praised her lifelong dedication to Africa’s development and stated, “Your reflections offered practical guidance and clarity on the choices we are called upon to make as a nation.”
Mrs. Tinubu described her presence as personally meaningful, saying it was a chance to recognize exceptional people and show gratitude at the beginning of the year.
She dedicated the honor to Nigerians who still uphold the values of kindness, sacrifice, and service.
Insisting that Nigerians cooperate to create the nation of their dreams, she stated, “I dedicate this award to every citizen who believes that selflessness and humaneness can truly change lives.”
