Her Excellency The First Lady: Mother, Teacher, Unpretentious Servant-Leader

By Adeola Agoro

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has been in the news recently over a moment that occurred in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Sunday during the event marking the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

At the event, she was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Yeye-Asiwaju of Ile Oodua. We say congratulations to our Mother.

During the celebration, she personally stood up to ask Governor Ademola Adeleke to shorten his plan to sing a long praise song and even repeated the request when it seemed he was still going ahead with the song.

Several news platforms sensationally described it as a clash, an insult, a confrontation, and a public slight.

Before I share my opinion on what I think happened, let me tell you a few personal stories about Her Excellency so readers may better understand the woman behind the headlines.

A First Lady Who Notices People

She was at an event in Lagos many years ago. She sat at the High Table while I was among the audience. Out of courtesy, I didn’t go to greet her immediately because she was right in the middle and I didn’t want to call attention to myself. But she saw me in that large room and beckoned to me. I went to her, and as usual, the conversation was warm. She asked about my work, my children, and my well-being. Then she teased me, saying that if she hadn’t called me, I probably wouldn’t have come to greet her.

Only a mother behaves that way.

Humble, Direct, and Time-Conscious

When I wanted her to write the foreword to my book Hearts with Adeola Agoro, I sent her the manuscript in a drive. She called me the moment she received it. I began respectfully to say, “Her Excellency…” but she gently cut me short. There was no need for formal titles. She went straight to the point: why didn’t I send my usual dummy copy for easier reading? She asked if I wanted her to start opening her laptop to read it when she could easily read the printed version. She promised to make someone print it anyway but reminded me that we should make the process easier and quicker next time with printed versions.

There were other times when I needed something from her and I would beat about the bush, but she would go straight to the point and get it done.

She values time. She is practical. She gets straight to work.

A Woman Without Pretence

There was an occasion when an Honourable gentleman offered to help carry her handbag. She refused politely and asked him if he would help carry another woman’s handbag if she wasn’t the one—or even carry his own wife’s bag.

She is not one to lean on privilege unnecessarily. She stands firm in her identity, dignified, yet unpretentious.

She is a mother. She is a teacher. It is her nature. Nothing can change that.

Hands-On Leadership

There was a time on Lagos Island when the streets were filled with rough youths, boys and girls deep in hemp, hooliganism and all manner of vices.

Many people would have sent representatives to talk to them. But not her. She went herself, stood among them, and told them she saw potential in every one of them. She invited them to learn trades and promised to empower them.

One after the other, they lined up behind her. She didn’t grandstand; she acted. She moved hundreds of such people from the streets to vocational opportunities. She named them “Good Boys and Girls of Lagos.” That is leadership, lived, not performed.

The Real Remi Tinubu

People often misunderstand her simplicity for toughness. She is not one to sit quietly while time is wasted. She will speak. She is not one to pretend for cameras. She is present. She doesn’t carry herself like a demi-god and she doesn’t treat people as lower beings. Her focus is work, and she moves on quickly to the next task.

How many First Ladies have you seen who do not adorn themselves heavily with diamonds and luxury?

How many travel without a crowd of women trailing behind for shopping and spectacle?

How many prioritize empowerment programmes over photo-ops?

This First Lady serves differently, practically, sincerely, and without noise.

She respects the office of every leader. She has visited Governor Adeleke before and has supported Osun State with empowerment programmes through the Renewed Hope Initiative, especially for women and youths. To her, Governors’ Wives are like younger sisters and the governors like her younger brothers or children in leadership. So when she spoke at the event, she likely wasn’t thinking of politics or perception; she simply responded instinctively as she always does.

It just happened that the moment was public—before dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, past and present governors, traditional rulers and captains of influence.

So, Was It an Embarrassment?

No. Not in her character.

She is a mother who corrects anywhere, a teacher who guides anywhere, a mentor who embraces anywhere. There was no malice, just sincerity in real time.

Nigeria presently has a First Lady who chooses service over spectacle, who would rather empower youths than display jewellery; who values time over ceremony; who speaks truth over silence. Agree or not, Mother Oluremi Tinubu stands distinct.

History will remember not the headlines, but the hearts she touched, the young people she lifted, and the legacy she builds quietly without glitter.

Adeola Agoro

Mentee of the First Lady, Media Practitioner,

Founder of Deo-Agoz Studio, Abuja