Tinubu Charges Women to Acquire Skills for Effective Governance

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, has emphasized the need for women to pursue higher education and build capacity to effectively hold public office. While the constitution requires a minimum school certificate for public office, Tinubu believes that acquiring more education is essential for competence and capacity. She made this statement during a gathering of state and zonal women leaders of the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tinubu's remarks come after the APC's nationwide primaries, which saw several high-profile female lawmakers and aspirants lose their bids. She shared her own experience, highlighting the importance of connecting with constituents and maintaining relationships after winning office. Tinubu also advised women to build grassroots structures through community engagement, which is often overlooked by politicians. 'I tell people that the minimum requirement to run for an office is just a school certificate. But what is good is to have a lot of education,' she said. The First Lady also called on state governors to provide buses for the APC women's wing in their respective states, announcing that buses funded by donations would be distributed to women's zones. On the economy, Tinubu stated that the President's road and rail infrastructure drive is aimed at reducing the burden of expensive air travel on ordinary Nigerians. Earlier, the party's National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile, disclosed that 17 newly elected state women leaders and four newly elected zonal women leaders had joined the party's national structure. Alile noted that the APC Women Wing remains one of the strongest and most vibrant political women's structures in Africa, with an active presence across all 36 states and the FCT. The women's leader also announced the establishment of the Tinubu Torchbearers, a grassroots mobilization platform to deepen engagement and build stronger connections between the government and the people.