Fatimah Otunsanya
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, strongly condemned the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Tinubu requested a minute of silence from the Wives of Service Chiefs during their visit to the State House, Abuja, to honour the late Vice Principal and the victims of the Kebbi attack.
The visiting group included Mrs Sefiyan Shuaibu, Mrs Ngozi Aneke, Mrs Aishatu Abass, and Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, representing the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Police Officers’ Wives Associations, respectively.
The First Lady hailed the new service chiefs for ensuring national security, while applauding their spouses for supporting them and contributing to community welfare across the country.
She urged the service chiefs’ wives to create avenues for collaboration with her office, recalling her positive working relationship with former Service Chiefs’ spouses and their support for widows and veterans.
Mrs Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by security personnel in Kebbi, emphasising the importance of protecting lives and commending the officers for their commitment in spite of personal risks.
She revealed plans for holiday season initiatives, including financial support for persons with disabilities on December 3 and assistance to the elderly on December 16, funded by her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative.
The First Lady said N100 million had been budgeted to assist vulnerable groups, encouraging the service chiefs’ wives to emulate her leadership and expand community-based empowerment programmes nationwide.
Egbetokun, leading the visiting wives, thanked Mrs Tinubu for her support, guidance, and empowerment initiatives, highlighting programmes for widows, skill training, scholarships, and yearly support for the elderly.
The group pledged to continue learning under the First Lady’s leadership, vowing to sustain collaborative efforts that promoted women’s empowerment, community welfare, and national peace across Nigeria.