In a grand gesture, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, recently unveiled a golden statue of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
This unveiling, part of the monarch’s 50th birthday celebrations, recognized Tinubu’s impactful contributions to education, women’s empowerment, and community development.
The Ooni also inaugurated a 2.7-kilometer road and a hostel named in honor of the First Lady.
The newly renamed “Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way” is lined with solar-powered streetlights, symbolizing the paths she has paved for youth, women, and the less privileged.
The hostel, the largest in OAU’s history, stands as a commitment to advancing learning and empowerment opportunities for all.
Ooni said, “In recognition of her contributions, we have erected a golden statue to immortalize her virtues as a teacher, mother, and wife at the heart of Obafemi Awolowo University. Additionally, we built a state-of-the-art hostel, whose dynamic pavilion reflects her progressive nature.
“The 2.7-kilometer road, equipped with solar-powered street lamps, will now be known as Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way. This road symbolizes the many paths she has opened for youth, women, and the underprivileged in our society. The hostel and pavilion, the largest in the university’s history, stand as a testament to her commitment to creating spaces for learning, development, and empowerment for all.”
In her response, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the Ooni and announced a N1 billion donation for the restoration of the university’s landscape.
“The campus used to be beautiful when I was here. Ife is crying out for help. It used to be a beautiful campus, and the beauty must be restored,” she said.
