Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, has described the Igbo people as "very nice people," recounting her personal experiences with friends from the South-East during her childhood and university years. She made the remarks on Thursday, September 10, in Awka, Anambra state capital, at the launch of the National Community Food Bank in the South-East.
First Lady Shares Childhood and University Memories
Speaking to the gathering, Tinubu revealed that her bond with the Igbo community dates back to her school days. "Igbos are very nice people. My best friend in secondary school was an Igbo girl," she said. "In high school and tertiary institution, we were all Igbo because they said I look like an Igbo girl."
The First Lady noted that the people of the South-East always refer to her as Igbo because they believe she resembles one of them. Her remarks were met with applause from the audience, which included state government officials, traditional rulers, women's groups, and beneficiaries of the food bank programme.
National Community Food Bank Launches in South-East
The event in Awka marked the South-East rollout of the National Community Food Bank initiative, a federal government programme aimed at tackling food insecurity and improving access to affordable food for vulnerable households across the country. The First Lady said the project reflects President Bola Tinubu's commitment to ensuring no Nigerian goes hungry regardless of region or background.
Tinubu urged South-East governors, traditional rulers, and community leaders to support the food bank initiative and ensure it reaches those most in need at the grassroots. She emphasized that unity and shared values remain critical to Nigeria's progress, adding that her personal connections with people from the South-East have shaped her understanding of the region.
Nationwide Tour to Establish Food Banks
The launch in Anambra is part of a nationwide tour by the Office of the First Lady to establish community food banks in the six geopolitical zones. Dignitaries at the event included state government officials, traditional rulers, women's groups, and beneficiaries who received food items to kick off the programme in the zone.
The initiative is designed to provide a sustainable food distribution mechanism, targeting vulnerable households and ensuring that the benefits of the programme are felt at the community level. The First Lady's office has indicated that similar launches will take place in other geopolitical zones in the coming weeks.
