LEGENDARY OLUREMI TINUBU: WAXING STRONG AT 59 WITH HER RARE HEART OF GOLD
By OKI SAMSON, YOMI OYELAMI- Trek Africa Newspaper.
Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu, OON
‘I don’t know how to do business, but charity, I am very creative when it comes to that’ – Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu, OON.
And you can say that again! Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu, maybe the name is not known in business but give it to her, she is an outstanding success in the charity space. Her reputation for social good is undisputed. Widow support, scholarship of indigent students, lifting the downtrodden, footing the hospital bills of sick folks, helping undeserved communities, she is everywhere in the humanitarian sector. She is a progressive personality and solution provider who has find a unique place where she can best be deployed for nation building and she is running the race with grace.
She has the uncanny ability to bring gold out of dross. She engages across her wide network not for her self-aggrandizement but so as to bring succor to people who may never be able to meet them. And her efforts have been attended with profound results. On her own, she has improved the lives of 1430 widows to learn various skills which will help them take care of themselves and fend for their family.
She has the vision to make lives better, she believes in the vision, she builds upon the vision, and she does not give up her dreams of being a solution provider to generations. Some of her visions include:
PATIENCE HOME
Borne out of the willingness to reach a large section of the populace which is often abandoned, discriminated, and relegated to the background, the Patience Home was set up to meet the needs of childless widows.
It is a life of constant struggle for widows who have children, especially young talk less those without children. Only few will be able to fathom the hapless and hopeless lives that such women lead in a patriarchal society as Nigeria. No matter the success of the late husband, a childless widow is more likely to lose out in ensuing battle with the man’s family.
Such is the idea that birthed the facility located in Ibeju-Lekki named in honour of Mama Princess Patience Ikusebiala. The 10-bedroomed home is aimed at accommodating childless widows for about six to twelve months while arming them with requisite vocational skills that will help them find their foot thereafter. Each room can take two women. The facility also has a matron’s lodge.
L-R: Pastor Adetayo Toks (RCCG) Lagos Province 43; Founder, New Era Foundation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Assistant General Overseer (Admin) RCCG, Pastor Funso Odesola and his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Rachael Odesola during the commissioning of Patience Home built by New Era Foundation in collaboration with the RCCG (Throne of Grace Parish, Region 1) at Lukera, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, on Friday, 19th July, 2019.
Trek Africa Newspaper observed that the Patience Home is only a fraction of the great activities that will happen within the New Era Youth Camp, a large premise that will be home for many other humanitarian activities of the resourceful woman.
However, the Patience Home is definitely a testament to collaboration that works, Trek Africa Newspaper can state. Each of the bedrooms in the home is named after the sponsors or their loved ones. The donors of the rooms include Babajide Sanwo-olu who named the room after his wife, former first lady Bolanle Ambode, Idiat Adebule, Lola Akande, Mudashiru Obasa, Gbenga Ashafa, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni among others.
The vocational skills acquisition in the home, ranging from Fashion Designing and Dress making, Catering and Hotel Management, Hairdressing and Cosmetology, and Hats, Beads and Crafts will be facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, National Headquarters, Ebute-meta, Lagos sees to the successful running of the home with the partnership of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s foundation, New Era Foundation. The church also conduct the interview for widows that will be admitted into the facility. The home, yet, requires support from the individuals and corporate bodies for the regular expenses like feeding, salaries, and finances to settle them after the one-year stay, which will be incurred by the home. What a wonderful support system!
NEW ERA FOUNDATION
When the New Era Foundation started about two decades ago, precisely in the year 2000, it started like every other regular pet project which wives of state governors embarked on in the new dawn of democracy. The pet projects were set out, or so many claim, to help the less-privileged and bring a better deal for the undeserved.
Today, look around the length and breadth of the country and check the remains of the many pet projects of the governors’ wives that have served various terms of office since 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Trek Africa Newspaper will ask how many of these pet projects are still standing. Even if on paper, how many still exist? How many are still making impact on ground?
enator Oluremi Shade Tinubu, OON
The New Era Foundation is standing tall in a world of its own. Its official website opens proudly with an About Us statement ‘Since 2000, we have aimed to serve humanity, locally and globally, by making a meaningful impact in the development of women, children and youths through the combined efforts of well-spirited individuals, organizations and dedicated staff. We have done this by promoting public awareness on environmental health and protection issues; sensitising people to the importance of volunteering and community service in nation-building; encouraging societal achievers to willingly act as role models and contributors to the development of our young ones; establishing of resident camp to cater for students during vacation by inculcating in them the spirit of team work and learning various vocational and sporting activities; providing youth development centres and organizing intellectual, mental and physical competitions to ginger the young ones into the habit and culture of healthy rivalry for better performance.’
Only a public-spirited and right-thinking individual would have sustained this humongous effort. Been widely acclaimed to be of great impact to Lagos state and of course, Nigeria, the activities of the organization has enjoyed the support of successive governors since 1999. A very special one that comes to mind is the Spelling Bee competition.
Started in 2001, the Spelling Bee competition intended, among other aims, to improve intelligence of students in primary and secondary schools and to promote healthy inter-school and collegiate relationship in Lagos state. From the local, zonal and then state level, the annual competition rewards excellent academic performance and crowns it up with the coveted ‘One Day Governor’ award.
HUMANITARIAN STRIDES AS SENATOR
Among the 109 senators that sit in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly at different times since 2011, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is the only person that returns to her constituents for the Quarterly Town Hall Meeting.
Four times every year, Mrs. Tinubu consults with citizens of the Lagos Central Senatorial District. Prime on the agenda of the meetings is the report of constituency projects that has been executed by her office.
L-R: Former Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale presenting a Cash Gift to One of the Beneficiaries of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme (PETECS) While, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Looks-on during the 25th Edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall Meetings.
Attend any of these meetings; Trek Africa Newspaper will assure you that you will get to listen to her deliver a servant leader’s account, most times with a mix of English and Yoruba, of social impact programmes like Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme (WEES), Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme (PETECS), Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Scheme (YESAS), Elderly Citizens Assistance Scheme (ECAS) among others. You will also get to learn about education support initiatives like scholarship schemes and purchase of examination forms, sporting activities like the Muniru Muse Cup, and many intervention programmes that develop public infrastructure in the senatorial district.
And of course, the Senator tells the attendees about her lawmaking role in the Upper legislative process both at plenary and committee levels in Abuja. She is definitely not a pushover in the proceedings of the Senate as she holds key positions in committees like Communication, Environment, Women Affairs, Labour and Productivity among others.
Fondly called ‘Mama’ by the young and elderly alike, she does not allow them go home on empty stomach after sitting for hours in the meeting. She caters for everyone by ensuring that nutritious and sumptuous meals are packaged for all and sundry that attends the event.
NIGERIAN WOMEN HALL OF FAME
Whatever one is doing and doing well usually does not go unrecognized. When in 2018, there was stiff competition against her return to the National Assembly, the constituency in Lagos Central rose up in one voice to demand that their wish be done, that is, she should get another term. They supported their stance by standing with one vote to deliver her return on 23rd February 2019. The margin between her and her closest competitor was so wide because women trooped out in their numbers, even surpassing her previous record. It can only be hoped that government will take women inclusion more seriously so there can be opportunities for more women like Oluremi to emerge.
This impressive feat has earned Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu the induction into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame as Nigeria’s first female Senator to serve in three consecutive parliaments. This is an enviable record that can only be attained by someone who has the heart for people.
She may or may not get a fourth term in the Upper Chambers, but Trek Africa Newspaper is certain that this amiable, caring, and credible mother with the heart of gold will continue to share her kind and generous disposition with humanity.
Sen. Oluremi Tinubu admiring the Hall of Fame where her Name was engraved shortly after she was inducted into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame as Nigeria’s first female Senator to serve in three consecutive parliaments.
PERSONALITIES EULOGISE OLUREMI AT 59
‘That my wife is a senator today was not a programme I supported. They collected the form and told me if I am not running, then release your wife to run. Today, I am really proud that she is a senator because she has made the Lagos Central senatorial district a better place’ – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
L-R: National Leader, All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu admiring His wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at an event.
‘Sen. Oluremi Tinubu encouraged me to speak out, I was so anxious and reluctant but till today I remember what I said, ‘if we each do a little, we can do a lot’ and of course public speaking got easier for me after that first time, from that day till now, I am still speaking and I thank her for her encouragement’ – Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo
‘I want to commend Sen. Oluremi Tinubu for the vision she has, for building on the vision, for not giving up on the vision, for being a solution to all the widows out there, for finding something to offer and not being selfish by keeping her money to herself. We are very happy to have her in Lagos state. God bless her’ – Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-olu.
L-R: Pastor Funso Odesola, Assistant General Overseer (Admin) RCCG; DR. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady, Lagos State and Sen. Oluremi Tinubu at the commissioning of Patience Home at Ibeju-Lekki named in honour of Mama Princess Patience Ikusebiala.
‘There is no time you will engage her in a discussion that you will not gain something from her. She is a fantastic senator that makes her presentations in robust language. Most of us have to emulate her, particularly on this quarterly meeting with our constituents’ – Senator Ahmed Lawan, Senate President.
‘Asiwaju is blessed with a woman that is very humble. Women have a lot to learn from her. I want to appreciate Senator Tinubu for what she did for people like us’ – Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole
L-R: Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshimhole; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan during the Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting in Lagos.
‘It takes a lot of personal commitment to public service to do what Mrs Tinubu is doing in the Lagos Central District. At the Senate, she pursues the same passion to public service. Being the wife of a national leader does not affect her activities in the Senate’ – Sen. John Enoh
‘You have laid a good foundation for women by showing them direction’ – Sen. Godswill Akpabio
‘Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has performed well and beyond expectation. She is an achiever par excellence’ – Prince Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi
‘Aside from being a philanthropist, she is an altruist – doing it without expecting to get anything from it. That’s what she loves doing and she has continued to do it and we can see and feel it. As a matter of fact, I learn a lot from her. I just went there to work with her and now, I have gained so much experience’ – Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King
L-R: Women Leader, Lagos Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Fadekemi Otitonaiye; Chairman, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Omolola Essien; Senator, Lagos Central Senatorial District, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Director General, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Campaign Organization, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King and Chairman, IRU/Victoria Island LCDA, Hon. Princess Rasheedat Abiodun Adu During the Presentation of Certificate of Return to Sen. Oluremi Tinubu as 2019 Senator-Elect in Abuja.
‘She is an amiable and caring mother who cares for her children, everybody and the nation. She always surprise us when she is giving out assistance to people. She loves charity. She is not the only senator in Lagos or Nigeria but what she is doing, a man cannot do it, let’s not deceive ourselves. She is a generous woman. Like she says ‘don’t praise me, to God be the glory. It is God that is doing it’ – Mrs. Fadekemi Otitonaiye, Women Leader, Lagos Central Senatorial District, APC.
Hon. Tajudeen Ajide, Chairman Surulere Local Government (2nd left) flanked by Lagos Central Senatorial District Woman leader, Mrs Fadekemi Otitonaiye (left) and Youth Leader, Hon. Olanrewaju Mohammed (2nd right) presenting Start-up Kit to one of the beneficiaries of the NDE Cosmetology Training.
‘Senator Oluremi Tinubu is an unrepentant progressive without any pretence’ – Sen. Babafemi Ojudu
‘The world is full of problems, you shouldn’t add your own to it; rather you should be the solution. That’s what the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu is doing’ – Pastor Funso Odesola, Assistant General Overseer (Admin) RCCG.
