A golden statue of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was recently unveiled at a grand ceremony at Obafemi Awolowo University.
The statue was commissioned by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwus, as a way to honour the First Lady for her strong leadership, dedication to education, commitment to women’s empowerment, and efforts to promote national unity.
Along with the eye-catching statue, a 2’7km road named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way constructed on the university’s grounds was also dedicated to her.
He shared a picture of the statue on his Instagram page with the caption;
“As I begin my 50th birthday celebrations with meaningful activities for the people of Ile-Ife, I was honored to welcome Her Excellency, the First Lady of Nigeria, to the Royal Court of Ife.
“Her visit, attended by dignitaries, marked the unveiling of the OJAJA hostel, and the commissioning of a 2.7-kilometer road and a pavilion named in her honor at Obafemi Awolowo University. These events reflect our shared commitment to progress for our community and nation.
“Her Excellency’s journey from a student at Obafemi Awolowo University over 41 years ago to a national leader is inspiring. She has consistently championed the rights of women and children across Nigeria, advocating for gender equality, education, and social welfare. Her support for entrepreneurial programs has fostered a new generation of female leaders, contributing to national development.
“Like Her Excellency, I urge all leaders to serve Nigeria with integrity, compassion, and patriotism. Our nation requires socio-economic initiatives that reach all corners, and it is our duty to be sources of hope and strength in shaping Nigeria’s future.”
Unfortunately despite his noble intentions, this gesture did not go over well with many Nigerians. They pointed out that in this time of severe economic hardships, this ostentatious display was simply a waste of much-needed financial resources that could have been channeled elsewhere.
Many condemned his actions, saying that such a statue benefited no one, especially not the people struggling in this current economy. They suggested that instead of spending so much money on a statue no one wanted, the money could have been used to establish charities or other beneficial organizations, asserting that, that would have been a better way to honour her legacy.
Watch the unveiling of the statue here;
JUST IN: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, unveiled a golden statue of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) October 11, 2024
