The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said she wants to serve as a positive role model for young girls, especially at a time when many of them lack people they can truly look up to in today’s society.
Mrs. Tinubu made this known on Thursday during the inauguration of the “Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre” at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. The centre is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub built by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Speaking at the event, the First Lady said she had always wished to be a case study and source of inspiration for young girls, noting that genuine role models are becoming scarce in the present generation.
“All along, I have been thinking that I should be a case study for young girls,” she said. “They talk about the girl child all the time, but nowadays people no longer have role models.”
Mrs. Tinubu expressed concern about the impact of social media and the internet on young people, especially how false stories and negative comments often overshadow positive achievements.
“We live in an age where, even when people are doing well, out of envy, many untrue things are said about them on the internet. And our young people do not really see many people to emulate,” she said.
The First Lady explained that role models played a major part in shaping her own life and values, and she believes young people need such examples to guide their choices and dreams.
She encouraged young girls to learn how to dream positively and believe in themselves. Drawing from her personal experience, Mrs. Tinubu said she had always dreamed of becoming a teacher while growing up and eventually achieved that goal.
“As young as I was then, just like the two girls who welcomed me here, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I ended up being one,” she said.
She noted that while ambitions are important, young girls should also understand that their purpose in life has already been placed within them by God.
“Don’t be overly ambitious. Whatever you will become has already been deposited in you by God,” she advised.
Mrs. Tinubu described the Dream Centre as a special project close to her heart, explaining that it would serve as a place where young people can learn, dream, and be inspired.
“This centre is not for girls alone; it is also for boys,” she said. “We have books and materials that we brought in. Some will be given out for free, while others will be kept in a small library where you can read and leave.”
She also revealed that the centre would include a storytelling room where her life journey would be shared with young people.
“There will be a room called the storytelling room. That is where I will talk about my story. The Dream Centre will tell young girls my life story,” she added.
The ICT centre is designed to promote digital skills, learning, creativity, and innovation among young people. It also aims to expose students to modern technology and inspire them to use knowledge for personal growth and national development.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said the Dream Centre represents a blend of technology, storytelling, and history. According to him, the centre will help preserve important stories and values for future generations.
“This is a unique centre that converts the power of technology and storytelling to preserve our history, so that our younger ones and generations to come will have access to our history and the tools to navigate their lives,” Abdullahi said.
He stressed the importance of preserving history, noting that without it, passing knowledge from one generation to another would be difficult.
“Without history, it will be difficult to pass knowledge to this generation and the next. This centre is designed to preserve the life and history of our First Lady, and we thank Kabiyesi for building it,” he added.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also spoke at the event, commending the First Lady for her commitment to education and youth development. He described the Dream Centre as a lasting legacy that would inspire generations to come.
According to the monarch, the centre would preserve the legacy of Mrs. Tinubu both in her lifetime and beyond.
The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Adebayo Bamire, expressed appreciation to the First Lady, the Ooni of Ife, and NITDA for bringing the Dream Centre to the university. He said the centre would add value to learning, research, and youth empowerment on campus.
Education stakeholders at the event described the initiative as timely, noting that many young Nigerians need guidance, encouragement, and access to digital resources to succeed in a fast-changing world.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu has long been known for her interest in education and women’s empowerment. As a former senator representing Lagos Central, she sponsored and supported several initiatives focused on learning, youth development, and social welfare. As First Lady, she has continued to advocate for the welfare of women, children, and young people across the country.
The Dream Centre at OAU is expected to serve as a model for similar projects in other parts of Nigeria, combining technology, learning, and personal stories to inspire young minds.
For many students and young visitors present at the inauguration, the event was not just about a new building, but about hope, vision, and the belief that with the right guidance, dreams can become reality.
As the First Lady concluded her address, she reminded young people that success does not come overnight but through discipline, faith and positive choices.