President Bola Tinubu used his wife’s 66th birthday to offer a rare public glimpse into their partnership, describing First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as his ‘truest friend and confidante’.
The President in a tribute posted on X on Monday
credited the First Lady with steadying him through the pressures of Nigerian politics.
Tinubu praised Oluremi’s patience, courage and compassion, and quoted a Yoruba proverb – “A good wife is her husband’s crown”, to describe her role in his life.
“The burdens that were mine to bear often found their way onto your shoulders,” he wrote, adding that in uncertain times she “stayed calm beside me and prayed with me.”
The President also highlighted her willingness to challenge him.
“I call you my truest friend and confidante because you speak the truth plainly, even on the days I would rather not hear it,” President Tinubu wrote.
Beyond the personal notes, the message underscored the First Lady’s public profile.
President Tinubu pointed to her humanitarian work, from the New Era Foundation during their years leading Lagos State to her current Renewed Hope Initiative, which has focused on young people, widows, older citizens and women farmers.
He also noted her advocacy for people affected by tuberculosis and other illnesses.
At home, the President said, First Lady Tinubu’s influence is evident in the family’s values.
“Our children and grandchildren have grown beneath the shelter of your prayers,” he wrote.
“They carry your values of faith and kindness wherever life takes them.”
The tribute comes as Oluremi Tinubu, a senator, continues to shape the First Lady’s office around education, health and social‑welfare programs, extending a public‑service arc that began when she founded the New Era Foundation in 1999.
