Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged citizens to be more compassionate in helping one another as it promotes the core value of the nation.
The First Lady, who gave the advise on Tuesday when she received the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Shaul Freeman at the State House, Abuja, stressed that compassion, love and mutual assistance are vital to national unity adding that it is part of the core values of the nation.
According to Mrs Tinubu: “We really need to show compassion to one another and showing compassion, it takes a lot of godliness, all it takes is for a comfortable person to help others.
“I love, Nigeria, it is a great country and there is no investment that you put in Nigeria that goes to waste.
”The more I discover who we are, the more I see how blessed this nation is and I pray that the young people and the coming generation can see that this is a great nation.
”It is amazing how God has put us together but to now find allies from foreign countries believing in this country, is a great blessing.”
Earlier, Freeman had commended the various programmes of the First Lady in the area of women empowerment, agriculture, youth development and education.
He thanked Mrs Tinubu for using the Renewed Hope Initiative to reach out to many vulnerable Nigerians especially in agriculture, technology, healthcare, education, women and youth empowerment.
The envoy highlighted areas where the Israeli government has carried out voluntary mission activities to include reaching the less privileged, hospital, orphanage outreaches among others.
Freeman said he would end his tour of duty in one week adding that it was really important for him to see the First Lady and express his love for Nigeria which he pointed out is a far cry from all the negative stories they hear about the country.
He said: ”There is a new team and they are ready to work with the Nigerian nation. The Israeli government has been able to do some works with the orphanages and on behalf of the Embassy, we would be donating more wheel chairs to them.
“Israel will also be donating three State of the Art Ambulances to the health system. We have trained Nigerian Doctors and we also bring in Israeli Doctors to help the system. We have also been doing a lot in the area of agriculture and will continue to do so.
”For me, Nigeria has been the most incredible experience, I have had the most fantastic time and I want you to know that we are committed to the nation including our Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister, the President and our first Lady.”
He further assured that Israeli would not stop partnering with Nigeria.
”Nigeria is our partner, Nigeria is our friend and we are ready to do incredible things for our friends and partners.”
Also on Tuesday, the First Lady disclosed that women stand a better chance at breaking the glass ceilings and achieving their aspiration for more seats at the table when they support one another.
Speaking while receiving in audience the President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) in her office. Mrs Tinubu noted that the victory is an important message to women in general that they can achieve much through dedication and cooperation.
“You should set the bar and make room for other women coming behind you. This victory means a lot for women in general. I just shared with my last guest that in the judiciary now, women are holding sway, the Chief Justice is a woman, the President of the Court of Appeal is a woman and now you are the President-elect of the NBA. Women are achieving a lot.”
The First Lady expressed her joy at the visit of the team saying “this is a visit that would be remembered by my office for a long time to come, I can only pray for you and wish you a successful tenure”.
She commended Prof Foluke Dada-Lawanson who was the other female aspirant for the post of the NBA President but stepped down for the President-elect, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya and mobilised support towards her victory describing the gesture as a demonstration of rare sportsmanship.
Earlier, NBA President-elect of paid glowing tribute to Mrs Tinubu for all her achievements through the Renewed Hope Initiative, especially by touching the lives of the most vulnerable in the society.
She said the First Lady has set a good example for others to emulate.
Her words: “Your job with the RHI in addition to being the First Lady looks like a full-time job. You have set an example for others to emulate. We thank you for all that you have been doing. These are so much”.
The NBA President-elect assured the First Lady of the readiness of the NBA to partner with her and the RHI to provide pro-bono services where needed for the vulnerable.
Mrs Badejo-Okusanya explained that the purpose of the visit was to share the joy of the achievement with the First Lady.
Her election on July 19, 2026 as the 33rd president of the Nigerian Bar Association is considered a milestone and a big win for women, as she is the first woman directly elected and second female president in the history of the association.
Deji Elumoye
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