First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday praised compassion and mutual assistance as cornerstones of national unity while receiving Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting comes in furtherance of continued bilateral cooperation on health, agriculture and social services between Nigeria and Israel.
“I love Nigeria. It is a great country, and there is no investment that you put in Nigeria that goes to waste,” the First Lady said, according to a statement from her Media aide Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady described the nation as “blessed” and urged efforts to cultivate pride among young Nigerians for the country’s future.
The First Lady, who leads the Renewed Hope Initiative, said compassion and “godliness” were essential to helping vulnerable citizens, calling on those with means to provide assistance to others.
In his remarks, Ambassador Freeman praised the First Lady’s programmes in women’s empowerment, agriculture, youth development and education, and detailed a string of cooperative activities conducted by the Israeli embassy.
He said the mission had worked with hospitals and orphanages and planned further donations of wheelchairs, as well as three advanced ambulances to support Nigeria’s health system.
“We have trained Nigerian doctors, and we also bring in Israeli doctors to help the system,” Mr. Freeman said.
He added that Israel would continue agricultural collaboration and other voluntary missions, and described his posting to Nigeria as “the most incredible experience.”
Freeman, who said he will conclude his assignment in about a week, framed the relationship as a strategic partnership. “Nigeria is our partner, Nigeria is our friend, and we are ready to do incredible things for our friends and partners,” he said.
Those accompanying the Ambassador included Deputy Chief of Mission Rachel Stavissky.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, STV Adegbite, also attended the meeting.
The encounter signals an intensifying, practical engagement between the diplomatic mission and Nigerian social programs, with the embassy pledging material assistance and medical cooperation as part of its remaining tenure in Abuja.
