Tinubu hails wife at 65, calls her Confidant and steady anchor

Tinubu hails wife at 65, calls her confidant and steady anchor

 

 

 

President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated his wife, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as she clocked 65, describing her as his confidant, counsellor and a steady anchor through the years of political and personal trials.

 

In a heartfelt tribute released at midnight, the President extolled her virtues as a partner whose quiet strength and sacrifices have shaped their family and, by extension, the nation.

 

“As you celebrate your 65th birthday today, I honour not only the love of my life, but also a woman whose quiet strength and enduring grace have been my steadying anchor,” the President said.

 

He recalled her unwavering support during his years of struggle, exile and public service, noting that she stood firmly by his side with “dignity, patience and devotion words can scarcely express.”

 

According to him, the First Lady remains more than a wife: “You are my confidant, counsellor, and the steady flame illuminating my path.”

 

The President added that her sacrifices over the decades amounted to a form of national service. “Nigeria owes you more than many will ever know. In every sacrifice you made quietly, in every burden you carried without complaint, you have served this country as surely as I have, not from the podium, but from the heart of our home,” he noted.

 

Tinubu praised her as a role model to their children, grandchildren and Nigerian women, saying she embodies compassion, faith, resilience and true womanhood.

 

“As your husband, I thank God for your life, health and unwavering love. As your President, I salute you as the First Lady whose warmth and empathy continue to touch millions of lives across our land,” he said.

 

Earlier, Mrs Tinubu announced she would dedicate her 65th birthday to raising funds for the completion of the long-delayed National Library headquarters in Abuja.

 

In a statement last Thursday, she urged well-wishers to channel gifts, adverts and greetings into the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund” coordinated by the Ministry of Education.

 

“This will be the best birthday present I would ever receive. My love for education has informed my decision to dedicate my birthday to this worthy cause,” she explained.

 

The National Library project, awarded in 2006 for N8.59 billion and abandoned midway, has become a symbol of stalled public infrastructure. Though physical work stood at 44 per cent by 2023, completion now requires between N49.6 billion and N120 billion.

 

In April, Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced that the Federal Government had directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to resume funding, with work expected to restart in June.

 

The Nigerian Library Association recently renewed calls for urgent completion, stressing its importance to education, research and cultural preservation.

 

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a former Lagos First Lady and three-term senator, has consistently tied her advocacy to education, women empowerment and youth development.