Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, has expressed her readiness to partner with the United Nations (UN) and its sister agencies to address various areas of concern, including role of women in public life, increased participation in economy, ending gender-based violence, child labour, and the scourge of out-school children.

The First Lady made this known while receiving the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

She stated that her office was ready to accept the UN offer, saying all they have stated are areas she remains passionate about and they are of importance to her.

Tinubu said her national programme, ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’, is also taking all the issues into cognisance.

The First Lady further urged women to stop looking down on themselves but improve on themselves.

She said: “I want more women in the decision-making positions like legislative arms because if laws are not changed, this would be the same game continuously.

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“However, are the women ready to sacrifice? We are the ones that need to stand to help ourselves.

“Education is very vital and I don’t believe that a woman cannot get all that she wants once she is educated but our focus on education is for all both boys and girls and even less privileged women.”

On his part, Schmale promised on behalf of his organisation to collaborate with the office of the First Lady on women and children development.

He said the UN was aware of President Tinubu’s stand on improving on the economic situation in the country, adding that the organisation was in support of this.

The UN official said: “One issue is the role of women in public life and we are very keen on it as you. We offer our support significantly in increasing the number of women in public life in Nigeria.

“Secondly, it is our understanding that the president has made the economy an important stone, again we know that women play a key role in the economy considering food and security as a national emergency.

“We are ready to explore what more we can do to support the government and your excellence in increasing the role of women in the economy and revitalizing the economy.”

Schmale added that the UN would support the First Lady in ensuring that issues like polio, out-of-school children, child labour, and violent against women are brought to the minimum level.

The Star