First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu on Thursday paid homage to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in his palace in Benin City.
Tinubu, who said it had been a long time since she last visited the palace, recalled that her last visit was around 1999 when the current Olu of Warri was getting married.
She said her visit to Edo was facilitated by Gov. Monday Okpebholo to commission projects, including CNG buses to reduce transport fare, and to empower about 5,000 women and youths.
The First Lady said she brought warm greetings from President Bola Tinubu, congratulated the Oba on his 10th coronation anniversary, and presented two baskets of fruits as gifts for more fruitful years for the Oba and the Queens.
Tinubu said in spite of turning 66, God had strengthened her for the assignment, noting that her 12 years in the Senate had prepared her, alongside her husband’s experience to serve.
She said the executive arm allowed for instant impact, unlike legislation, and that the administration came to rebuild eroded foundations.
The First Lady said she does not receive any allocation for her office, and that all her interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative were supported by well-meaning Nigerians and partners.
She listed her interventions to include:- Every Home a Garden initiative, support for Young Farmers Club, Women and Youth in Agric, and Environment Club, N1 million scholarship per beneficiary throughout their schooling, donation of two million exercise books nationwide, and partnership with TETFund for ICT Experience Centres in universities.
“The interventions also include provision of disposable sanitary towels, 10,000 per state for one year, now taken over by the Federal Ministry of Education, training for women and young ladies doing business in partnership with NITDA, and personal ICT training for herself and wives of executives.
“It also includes N50,000 grant each to petty traders such as pepper and okra sellers.
“For economic empowerment, we have been helping women across the nation with petty trading. I was tagged Iya Akara for giving women N50,000. That wasn’t just about akara. Small businesses are what revive the economy. It may look like N50,000 is small but we have expended about N2 billion in that venture across Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, initial grants of N100,000, now N200,000 were given to 250 beneficiaries per state, as encouragement for self-reliance. including N200,000 each to 250 elderly persons per state during the World Disability Day and Christmas.
“Freezers and other equipment were given to 500 women each across four geopolitical zones – North Central, South-South, South-West and South-East, in collaboration with SDGs.”
She disclosed that Tony Elumelu donated N1 billion for the initiative.
Tinubu requested permission of the Oba to host the programmes for persons with disabilities and the elderly in palaces across the three senatorial districts of Edo, a model she said, had worked in some palaces.
Other interventions she listed, included HPV vaccination advocacy to prevent cervical cancer, which had received international applause, and birth registration linked to NIN with UNICEF.
She also mentioned community food banks launched across the six geopolitical zones, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health and located near Primary Health Centres to support malnourished children, lactating mothers and pregnant women in vulnerable communities, which she flagged off in Kogi for North Central.
Tinubu said that plans are underway to build three of such food banks each, per state.
She also listed the National Unity Fabric, designed by a 25-year-old, who won N25 million in a competition, support for widows of fallen heroes, and food outreach programmes in partnership with BUA and Flour Mills as part of her interventions.
In his response, Oba Ewuare II, in a speech read on his behalf by his first daughter, Ikuoyemwen Ewuare, said the First Lady’s visit came at a particularly meaningful time as the kingdom celebrates the 10th anniversary of his coronation.
“We appreciate your presence and the goodwill which this visit brings to our kingdom.
“These 10 years have been a journey of service, reflection, and renewal, a continuing commitment to preserving our cultural heritage, strengthening our traditional institution, promoting peace and unity, and advancing the well-being of our people,” the Oba said.
He said through the Oba Ewuare II Foundation, established to uphold the cultural values, dignity and welfare of the Edo people, the palace has translated cultural responsibility into practical interventions including scholarships to children and youths within and beyond Benin, promotion of Edo language education, and building a school within the Holy Aruosa Church premises.
“We also engaged in resettling, rehabilitating and reintegrating victims of human trafficking and illegal migration through counseling, skills acquisition and financial empowerment, and organising free vocational training and enterprise development programmes.
“These efforts reflect our conviction that tradition must serve the people, and that culture must find expression in compassion, opportunity, and human dignity,” he said.
The Oba said the Benin Throne welcomed all, who come in friendship with sincere commitment to the welfare of the people, and that the institution remained nonpartisan, offering prayers, counsel and encouragement for peace, justice and progress of the country.
He recognised the role of the office of the First Lady in drawing attention to the needs of women, children, families and vulnerable members through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
He invited the President’s wife to partner with the Oba Ewuare II Foundation as a trusted vehicle for her corporate social responsibility and humanitarian interventions in Edo.
“The well-being of women and children deserves our collective attention. When women have the opportunity to flourish, families become stronger.
“When children are protected and educated, the future of our nation becomes more secure,” he said.
He urged the First Lady to convey his warm greetings to President Bola Tinubu and prayed that Almighty God grants him wisdom, strength and discernment.
The highlight of the visit was when the Oba honoured the First Lady with the Benin royal traditional bead ring known as Ikele.
“Please accept this gift as an expression of our warm welcome, our esteem for you, and the goodwill of the palace and people of Benin Kingdom. May it serve as a lasting remembrance of your visit,” the Oba said.
The Oba also said he is proud of the First Lady for making the country proud in America, when she was conspicuously recognised and commended by the President of the United States of America, and prayed for her family and safe journey.