First Lady Oluremi Tinubu honoured at OAFLAD high-level dinner

…advocates planet-friendly school meals

By Kunle Sanni

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received high praise on Monday for her reintroduction of the Alternative High School for Girls, a program designed to provide education to young women who had previously dropped out of school.

The recognition came during a prestigious dinner hosted by the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), in collaboration with TheirWorld, an education-focused nonprofit led by former UK First Lady, Sarah Brown.

The high-level dinner, which took place on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, brought together First Ladies from across Africa to discuss solutions for empowering the continent’s future through education.

According to a statement from her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs. Tinubu’s initiative was lauded as a strategic intervention that has the potential to significantly improve opportunities for women and girls across Nigeria.

The program aims to reintegrate dropouts into the education system, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to society.

“African First Ladies hailed Mrs. Tinubu’s Alternative High School for Girls as a model for expanding access to education and positioning women for greater societal productivity,” the statement said.

Beyond education, the First Lady’s ongoing contributions to women’s empowerment and health initiatives were also highlighted at the event. These initiatives, which have already impacted communities in Nigeria, are expected to undergo further review by international peers as Mrs. Tinubu continues her engagements at UNGA.

A key topic of discussion at the dinner was Mrs. Tinubu’s advocacy for planet-friendly school meals, a concept that promotes environmentally sustainable practices in school feeding programs while ensuring that students receive nutritious meals.

The First Lady emphasized that such initiatives align with broader global goals of promoting health, well-being, and sustainability, particularly for children in underserved communities.

With her presence and impactful initiatives, Mrs. Tinubu continues to reinforce her role as a champion for education, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development. The support she received from her peers at the OAFLAD event serves as a testament to the importance of her work, not only in Nigeria but across Africa.

As Mrs. Tinubu’s engagements at UNGA continue, her efforts to improve the lives of women and children through education and health will remain in the global spotlight, further positioning Nigeria as a leader in sustainable development initiatives.