Oluremi "Remi" Tinubu CON OON (born 21 September 1960)[1] is a Nigerian politician and current first lady of Nigeria since 2023, as wife of President Bola Tinubu.[2] She was the first lady of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 when her husband was governor. She was the senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian National Assembly from 2011 to 2023. She is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party.[3][4]

Remi Tinubu
First Lady of Nigeria
Assumed role
29 May 2023
PresidentBola Tinubu
Preceded byAisha Buhari
Senator for Lagos Central
In office
6 June 2011 – 11 June 2023
Preceded byMunirudeen Muse
Succeeded byWasiu Sanni
First Lady of Lagos State
In role
29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
GovernorBola Tinubu
Preceded byMunira Marwa
Succeeded byAbimbola Fashola
Personal details
Born (1960-09-21) 21 September 1960 (age 64)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2013–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
(m. 1987)
Children3
Relatives
ResidenceAso Villa
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • pastor

Early life

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Oluremi Tinubu was born on 21 September 1960. She is the number 12 of 13 children in her family and she hails from the Ikusebiala family of Ogun State.[5][6]

Education

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Tinubu started her educational career at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School Ijebu-Ode where she obtained her West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Exam (WASSCE) in 1979 and PGD from The Redeemed Christian bible college in 2010[7]

Tinubu received a B.S. in Education from the University of Ife[8] and a National Certificate of Education in Botany and Zoology from the Adeyemi College of Education.[7]

Political career

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She became the first lady of Lagos State when her husband Bola Tinubu was elected as governor. As first lady, she established the New Era Foundation, dedicated to establishing centers for "all round development of young ones and promote public awareness on environmental health and community service."[9]

When Tinubu was elected, it was challenged at the Legislative House Election Petition Tribunal - which later convened and upheld the election in 2012.[10]

Tinubu was one of over 100 senators elected in the 8th assembly in 2015. Six of these were women. The others were Stella Oduah and Uche Ekwunife, who both represent Anambra, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Rose Okoji Oko and Binta Garba.[11] At the 2019 general elections, she retained her senatorial seat representing Lagos Central, making it her third tenure in office.[12]

In 2016, Senator Tinubu requested adequate security from the Inspector General of Police as a result of an alleged threat of assault by colleague and fellow party member Dino Melaye during a senate closed-door session.[13]

She was listed alongside Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tony Elumelu and other prominent people for the Eko Excellence Awards in 2019. [14]

In 2020, she called for the creation of state police as a way of tackling the rising spate of insecurity in the country.[15]

She is a firm believer in investing in Society Human Capital and Her Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisation Scheme in collaboration with Good Boys and Girls Empowerment Scheme (GBGES) has produced 1,172 beneficiaries. About 164 youths were tranined on various skills and received start up kits and capital of about N40,000 each.

In March 2021, Senator Tinubu proposed a bill to reform the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to make it a more viable entity.[16] She also received the award for the most impactful female senator at The Guardian-organized Inter national Women's Day Summit 2021.[17]

Awards and honors

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She has won several awards and received several honors, the awards and honors she received are: National award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON], Member, Board of Trustees of Kings’ University, Ode-Omu; Ghana Noble International Award for Leadership (2004), Gambian Diamond Award for Immense Contribution to the Emancipation of People from Poverty (2005)[7]

Personal life

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She is married to president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, they have three children: Zainab Abisola Tinubu, Habibat Tinubu and Olayinka Tinubu.[18][19] She is a stepmother to his three children from previous relationships, Olajide Tinubu (deceased), Folashade Tinubu and Oluwaseyi Tinubu.[20][21] She is a Christian[22] and is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.[23] Her ordination took place in 2018 at the Old Arena of RCCG, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway where the church held its 66th annual convention themed “Dominion”. She is also Grand Matron of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Remi Tinubu: Trauma of living in exile in US led me to Christ". TheCable. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. ^ Salami, Kareemot (1 June 2023). "Oluremi Tinubu: Nigeria first lady biography". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Senator Remi Tinubu Full Biography". 7 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Oluremi - Tinubu, Politician, Senator and Entrepreneur, Nigeria, Personality Profiles". nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Nigeria's politicians". nigeriagalleria.com. nigeriagalleria.com. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. ^ "About Oluremi". Oluremi Tinubu. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "Pastor Oluremi Tinubu". politiciansdata.com. Omobolaji Folajinmi. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Top 10 Most Influential OAU Alumni in Politics". Inside OAU Media. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Foundations and NGOs: An engine for humanitarian goals or fraud?". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Tribunal upholds Tinubu's election". odili. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  11. ^ The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij.com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
  12. ^ News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) (25 February 2019). "Oluremi Tinubu retains Lagos Central senatorial seat". Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria. Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Remi Tinubu says Dino Melaye threatened to rape her; petitions APC, Saraki | Premium Times Nigeria". 19 July 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  14. ^ Rebecca, Ejifoma. "Sanwo-Olu, Remi Tinubu, Elumelu, Others for Eko Excellence Awards". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Tinubu's Wife, Senator Oluremi, Advocates For State Police Over Rising Insecurity". Sahara Reporters. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Senator Tinubu proposes Bill to reform NIPOST | The Nation". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Bagudu, Obiano, Usman, Tinubu, Tallen, Okonjo-Iweala, others shine at IWD summit". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Senator Oluremi Tinubu: The Change that was Expected is not the Change that is being Experienced Now - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  19. ^ "Who Are Bola Tinubu's Children and What Do They Do For A Living?". Answers Africa. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  20. ^ Ekowa, Stephanie (17 March 2022). "Meet Bola Tinubu's Six Children". Buzz Nigeria. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  21. ^ Madu, Golden (25 May 2022). "Full details of Bola Tinubu's marriage, wife and children". DNB Africa. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  22. ^ "It's a life of service — Remi Tinubu". The Vanguard. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Redeem ordains Tinubu as pastor". guardian.ng. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Award for Senator Tinubu". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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Honorary titles
Preceded by
Munira Marwa
First Lady of Lagos State
1999–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by First Lady of Nigeria
2023–present
Incumbent
Senate of Nigeria
Preceded by Senator for Lagos Central
2011–2023
Succeeded by

Notes

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  1. ^ Abaribe was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
  2. ^ Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
  3. ^ Akpan was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the YPP in July 2022.
  4. ^ The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
  5. ^ Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021 before returning to the PDP in April 2022.
  6. ^ Jika was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in June 2022.
  7. ^ Bulkachuwa was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in November 2022.
  8. ^ Gumau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022.
  9. ^ The PDP's Douye Diri was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  10. ^ The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  11. ^ a b In April 2022, Adamu and Kyari resigned from the Senate after taking APC party offices the month prior.
  12. ^ The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
  13. ^ Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
  14. ^ Alimikhena was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
  15. ^ The APC's Adedayo Clement Adeyeye was elected senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
  16. ^ Onyewuchi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP in June 2022.
  17. ^ Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
  18. ^ Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
  19. ^ Shekarau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August 2022.
  20. ^ Babba Kaita was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in April 2022.
  21. ^ Aliero was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in May 2022.
  22. ^ Abdullahi was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
  23. ^ The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
  24. ^ The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  25. ^ Akwashiki was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the SDP in July 2022.
  26. ^ The APC's David Umaru was elected senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him senator. He took office in July 2019.
  27. ^ Balogun was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
  28. ^ The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  29. ^ The APC's Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Abdullahi Danbaba. He took office in November 2019 as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in April 2022.
  30. ^ Bwacha was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in February 2022.
  31. ^ a b c Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Hassan Muhammed Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021. In February 2022, Muhammed Gusau resigned to become Zamfara Deputy Governor.