First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 140,000 copies of seven storybooks to support girl child education, reaffirming her commitment to empowering young girls through education and personal development.
Mrs. Tinubu made the donation while handing over the books, published by the Merck Foundation and reproduced by her office, to the Federal Ministry of Education for distribution to public school libraries across the country.
According to a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the books, for which the First Lady wrote the foreword, cover a wide range of themes on girl child development and are designed to benefit both girls and boys by promoting confidence, empathy, healthy habits, equity and social responsibility.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the First Lady said the initiative forms part of her partnership with the Merck Foundation to improve education and support the development of girls across Nigeria.
“It gladdens my heart that I am able to partner with the Merck Foundation on this. Though the books are few compared to our population size, they are meaningful. The foundation has also been working with other African nations.
“We now have them as RHI international partners, and they are committed to improving healthcare, education, and social development across Africa.
“Through our partnership, the foundation has provided 91 medical scholarships that are helping to strengthen the health sector in Nigeria,” she said.
Tinubu stressed that adequate support must be provided to enable girls navigate the challenges of growing up, particularly through access to quality education.
She expressed confidence that the Ministry of Education would ensure the books reach public school libraries nationwide.
“I am confident that the ministry will facilitate the effective distribution of the books to public school libraries across the country, ensuring that children from diverse backgrounds can benefit from their lessons,” she added.
Receiving the books, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the publications address critical issues affecting the girl child, including gender discrimination, sexual violence and other social challenges, while promoting positive values and self-development.
He commended the First Lady for her sustained support for education and for initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Alausa also disclosed that the ministry’s “One Day Minister” initiative, introduced during this year’s Children’s Day celebration, was inspired by a similar programme Mrs. Tinubu initiated in 2007 while serving as the wife of the Governor of Lagos State.
“I promise you that we will use these books and disseminate them across the country,” the minister said.
With the official handover completed, distribution of the books to public school libraries nationwide has commenced.
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said she is committed to empowering young girls to shape a future that matches their dreams.
She stated this while handing over 140,000 copies of seven different storybooks on girl child development, published by the Merck Foundation, for which she wrote the foreword and which were reproduced by her office, to the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the books, which cover different subject matters and offer life lessons, will benefit both boys and girls by helping them develop confidence, empathy, healthy habits, and an appreciation for equity and social responsibility.
“It gladdens my heart that I am able to partner with the Merck Foundation on this. Though the books are few compared to our population size, they are meaningful. The foundation has also been working with other African nations.
“We now have them as RHI international partners, and they are committed to improving healthcare, education, and social development across Africa.
“Through our partnership, the foundation has provided 91 medical scholarships that are helping to strengthen the health sector in Nigeria.”
Handing over the books to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for onward distribution to public school libraries nationwide, the First Lady noted that adequate support must be provided to help the girl child navigate her complex path to development, especially through functional education.
She said the books are one of the many fruits of her collaboration with the Merck Foundation, aimed at promoting girl child education in the country.
“I am confident that the ministry will facilitate the effective distribution of the books to public school libraries across the country, ensuring that children from diverse backgrounds can benefit from their lessons.”
While reviewing the seven storybooks, Alausa noted that they address fundamental issues surrounding girl child development, including gender discrimination and sexual violence, while also reflecting the efforts of the First Lady and the Merck Foundation to instill important values in girls through the provision of the books.
Dr. Tunji Alausa commended the First Lady for supporting education in the country and for her continued support for citizens despite misinformation.
He further acknowledged that the ministry was following her example with the “One Day Minister” initiative held during the last Children’s Day celebration, which he said was inspired by a similar initiative she introduced when she was the wife of the Governor of Lagos State in 2007.
“I promise you that we will use these books and disseminate them across the country.”
With the official handover, the distribution of the books to public school libraries across the country has commenced.
