Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday announced a personal donation of N1 billion to support horticultural landscape restoration efforts of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The first lady, who reminisced about the scenic landscape of the university where she once studied, said the campus’s greenery has deteriorated over the years.
She emphasized the urgent need for environmental restoration to bring back the beauty of the institution.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed 2.7km Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way, along with a grand pavilion and monument on the OAU campus—projects donated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and named in her honour —Tinubu stressed the importance of maintenance in preserving such landscapes.
“I will donate N1 billion for the OAU horticultural landscape to be restored,” the first lady said. “The campus used to be beautiful while I was here. Ife is crying out for help. It used to be a beautiful campus and the beauty must be restored.”
The First Lady also expressed her gratitude to Oba Ogunwusi for naming the projects after her, noting that the event was part of the celebrations marking the Ooni’s 50th birthday.
In his earlier remarks, Oba Ogunwusi highlighted the reasoning behind naming the projects after Senator Tinubu, citing her notable contributions to education, women’s empowerment, and national unity.
“A golden statue is erected to immortalize her virtuous person and to showcase the strength of a teacher, a mother, and a wife in her at the very heart of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,” said the Ooni.
He also emphasized the importance of the projects, including a state-of-the-art hostel and a dynamic pavilion, as well as the 2.7km road lined with solar-powered street lamps, which have helped students during campus blackouts. The road, now known as ‘Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way,’ symbolizes the numerous opportunities she has opened for youth, women, and the underprivileged.
In his message, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by his deputy Kola Adewusi, reiterated the state’s commitment to improving infrastructure across the region.
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