Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said the country will soon attain a level of prosperity that would enable it to lend money to other nations, declaring that “Nigeria’s joy has come.”
Oluremi Tinubu made the remarks on Sunday in Ile-Ife, Osun State, shortly after she was conferred with the title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.
The ceremony formed part of events marking the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and drew a large assembly of political leaders and traditional rulers.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo led the dignitaries, joined by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima; former First Lady, Patience Jonathan; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.
Others present included former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; Osun Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi; and former Osun First Lady, Kafayat Oyetola.
Traditional rulers in attendance included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun; and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye.
Extending gratitude for her new title, the First Lady told the gathering that the country was on the cusp of massive economic progress.
“Those wondering how we want to do it, we will show them how things are being done.
“By 2026, Nigeria will be in prosperity; we will be lending to other nations,” she said.
She added that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would deliver results that would surprise critics, delivering the message in a mix of English and Yoruba.
Earlier, the Ooni praised the First Lady for her support throughout his decade on the throne and acknowledged former President Obasanjo’s continued backing of the institution.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto prayed for the Ooni’s enduring reign and urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders as they steer the country through challenging times.
Governor Adeleke, addressing the audience, commended Oba Ogunwusi for modernising traditional leadership and elevating the global profile of Yoruba culture.
He said the Osun State Government would work closely with the Ooni in advancing the vision of Ile-Ife as a premier cultural capital.
Adeleke announced that the government had completed 14 roads in the city as part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades and was close to finishing Ile-Ife’s first-ever flyover.
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