Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has distinguished herself as one of the most benevolent first ladies in the country, having doled out an estimated N12.9 billion in two years.

Tinubu, in her right as the mother of the country, has at intervals donated the sum as philanthropy and humanitarian interventions for victims of terrorism and natural disasters nationwide, and sometimes beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The donations were under the platform of her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, and at other times, in her personal capacity.

While the gesture is receiving applause and commendations, there is a brewing concern about the source of the sum, its appropriation, and accountability in the process.

Recall that Mrs Tinubu, a former Lagos first lady and senator who represented Lagos Central District, is not a stranger to humanitarian kindness and its public display among the masses.

She was the brain behind the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) – a forum of wives of serving commissioners – to engage and boost the morale of the female folks through women empowerment and social interventions.

On the sidelines of COWLSO, Mrs Tinubu also founded the New Era Foundation, through which she undertook programmes that sought to uplift youths in Lagos State by moving them away from drugs, crimes and other anti-social activities.

But since her transition from former Senator to wife of the President in 2023, her milk of human kindness has pumped with more intensity, leading to donations in parts of the country.

In July 2023, she donated N250,000 each to 57 flood-affected families in Abuja (N14.25 million); August – December: N50 million was donated to 1,000 female traders in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Edo States (as part of a N1.8 billion target for 37,000 traders nationwide); November: recorded the donation of N427.75 million to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military heroes (at N250,000 each).

First Lady’s humanitarian donations hit N12.9 billion in two years
By : Seye Olumide (Lagos) and Leo Sobechi, Abuja
Date: 7 Aug 2025

Share :

FRONT-&-6-6=8=25
Probe unappropriated spending, opposition parties urge FG

Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has distinguished herself as one of the most benevolent first ladies in the country, having doled out an estimated N12.9 billion in two years.

Tinubu, in her right as the mother of the country, has at intervals donated the sum as philanthropy and humanitarian interventions for victims of terrorism and natural disasters nationwide, and sometimes beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The donations were under the platform of her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, and at other times, in her personal capacity.

While the gesture is receiving applause and commendations, there is a brewing concern about the source of the sum, its appropriation, and accountability in the process.

Recall that Mrs Tinubu, a former Lagos first lady and senator who represented Lagos Central District, is not a stranger to humanitarian kindness and its public display among the masses.

She was the brain behind the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) – a forum of wives of serving commissioners – to engage and boost the morale of the female folks through women empowerment and social interventions.

On the sidelines of COWLSO, Mrs Tinubu also founded the New Era Foundation, through which she undertook programmes that sought to uplift youths in Lagos State by moving them away from drugs, crimes and other anti-social activities.

But since her transition from former Senator to wife of the President in 2023, her milk of human kindness has pumped with more intensity, leading to donations in parts of the country.

In July 2023, she donated N250,000 each to 57 flood-affected families in Abuja (N14.25 million); August – December: N50 million was donated to 1,000 female traders in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Edo States (as part of a N1.8 billion target for 37,000 traders nationwide); November: recorded the donation of N427.75 million to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military heroes (at N250,000 each).

Additional support in 2023 was N500 million to displaced families in Plateau. The sum of N70 million was given to women farmers in the North-West, N150 million for scholarships and diaspora health interventions and in December, N95 million in rice and cash were distributed to Christian communities across Northern states.

In March and December, the first lady gave out N1 billion in pledged support towards tuberculosis eradication in Nigeria, just as food support programmes and Christmas relief materials were provided for indigent persons.

So far this year, the following donations have been made: N100 million to families of tanker explosion victims in Niger State (N1 million each to 70 families, plus supplies); N1 billion pledged for tuberculosis awareness and treatment (second consecutive year).

Others are Disability Empowerment Scheme: N1.85 billion committed to empower persons with disabilities (N200,000 each to 250 people in all 36 states and FCT); Economic Empowerment – Kaduna State: N50 million grant to 1,000 women traders, along with 10,000 professional kits for midwives in the North-West and Food Outreach – Kogi State: N250,000 grants for 200 PWD households, with accompanying food items.

Between May and July 2025, these monies have been donated: N100 million to the Five Cowries Art Education Initiative; N1 billion to victims of violent attacks in Plateau State; N1 billion donation to victims of the Yelwata attack in Benue State, and pledged sustained support for displaced persons.

This month, N1 billion and relief materials to flood victims in Niger State were given out, even as she launched an empowerment scheme for 500 women in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Not government money
Mrs Tinubu has consistently said that the funds are not from government coffers but are sourced through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She stated: “I do not have vast sums of money, but what I have is meant to bring life…The money I use is not government funds. It is personally raised to help others.

“The Office of the First Lady has no constitutional allocation. If I kept money for personal gain, it would satisfy my greed. I choose to use what I have for the good of this country. This is not about politics—it’s about love for Nigeria.”

Special Adviser to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, earlier said that the motivation behind the First Lady’s donations was her increasing love for humanity, and “she believes that the most important thing is to build human beings, and she feels the donations will affect human lives directly. She is a lover of humanity, and that is what she has been doing all her life.”

First Lady’s humanitarian donations hit N12.9 billion in two years
By : Seye Olumide (Lagos) and Leo Sobechi, Abuja
Date: 7 Aug 2025

Share :

FRONT-&-6-6=8=25
Probe unappropriated spending, opposition parties urge FG

Wife of the President, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has distinguished herself as one of the most benevolent first ladies in the country, having doled out an estimated N12.9 billion in two years.

Tinubu, in her right as the mother of the country, has at intervals donated the sum as philanthropy and humanitarian interventions for victims of terrorism and natural disasters nationwide, and sometimes beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The donations were under the platform of her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, and at other times, in her personal capacity.

While the gesture is receiving applause and commendations, there is a brewing concern about the source of the sum, its appropriation, and accountability in the process.

Recall that Mrs Tinubu, a former Lagos first lady and senator who represented Lagos Central District, is not a stranger to humanitarian kindness and its public display among the masses.

She was the brain behind the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) – a forum of wives of serving commissioners – to engage and boost the morale of the female folks through women empowerment and social interventions.

On the sidelines of COWLSO, Mrs Tinubu also founded the New Era Foundation, through which she undertook programmes that sought to uplift youths in Lagos State by moving them away from drugs, crimes and other anti-social activities.

But since her transition from former Senator to wife of the President in 2023, her milk of human kindness has pumped with more intensity, leading to donations in parts of the country.

In July 2023, she donated N250,000 each to 57 flood-affected families in Abuja (N14.25 million); August – December: N50 million was donated to 1,000 female traders in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Edo States (as part of a N1.8 billion target for 37,000 traders nationwide); November: recorded the donation of N427.75 million to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military heroes (at N250,000 each).

Additional support in 2023 was N500 million to displaced families in Plateau. The sum of N70 million was given to women farmers in the North-West, N150 million for scholarships and diaspora health interventions and in December, N95 million in rice and cash were distributed to Christian communities across Northern states.

In March and December, the first lady gave out N1 billion in pledged support towards tuberculosis eradication in Nigeria, just as food support programmes and Christmas relief materials were provided for indigent persons.

So far this year, the following donations have been made: N100 million to families of tanker explosion victims in Niger State (N1 million each to 70 families, plus supplies); N1 billion pledged for tuberculosis awareness and treatment (second consecutive year).

Others are Disability Empowerment Scheme: N1.85 billion committed to empower persons with disabilities (N200,000 each to 250 people in all 36 states and FCT); Economic Empowerment – Kaduna State: N50 million grant to 1,000 women traders, along with 10,000 professional kits for midwives in the North-West and Food Outreach – Kogi State: N250,000 grants for 200 PWD households, with accompanying food items.

Between May and July 2025, these monies have been donated: N100 million to the Five Cowries Art Education Initiative; N1 billion to victims of violent attacks in Plateau State; N1 billion donation to victims of the Yelwata attack in Benue State, and pledged sustained support for displaced persons.

This month, N1 billion and relief materials to flood victims in Niger State were given out, even as she launched an empowerment scheme for 500 women in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Not government money
Mrs Tinubu has consistently said that the funds are not from government coffers but are sourced through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She stated: “I do not have vast sums of money, but what I have is meant to bring life…The money I use is not government funds. It is personally raised to help others.

“The Office of the First Lady has no constitutional allocation. If I kept money for personal gain, it would satisfy my greed. I choose to use what I have for the good of this country. This is not about politics—it’s about love for Nigeria.”

Special Adviser to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, earlier said that the motivation behind the First Lady’s donations was her increasing love for humanity, and “she believes that the most important thing is to build human beings, and she feels the donations will affect human lives directly. She is a lover of humanity, and that is what she has been doing all her life.”

Kukoyi added: “Many of the donations are under her Renewed Hope Initiative, and on the source of funding, there is a governing board for the initiative where we have reputable men and women from all over the country. Also, there are friends of the Renewed Hope Initiative who believe in the course of what she is doing.

“Well-meaning Nigerians are on the governing board, and of course, it is in the public space. Reputable businessmen and men of means, with credibility, have been the ones donating to the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Yinusa, while acknowledging the humanitarian nature of the interventions, insisted that public accountability must not be sacrificed on the altar of charity.

“We are not opposed to her humanitarian services — they are good and welcome. However, she cannot be spending public funds without proper appropriation in the national budget,” he said.

The Guardian