First Lady seeks global support for truth on Nigeria’s security challenges
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday called for a more balanced and accurate global understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges. She warned that a misrepresentation of the facts could undermine efforts to
- Senator Tinubu engages ex-Archbishop of Canterbury Welby on interfaith dialogue
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday called for a more balanced and accurate global understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges.
She warned that a misrepresentation of the facts could undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Senator Tinubu said this at a meeting with a former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Revd. Justin Welby, at her office in Abuja.
Their discussions centred on interfaith dialogue and pathways to strengthening peace and harmony in the country.
The First Lady stressed that while Nigeria continued to confront complex security issues, the international community must support the nation’s efforts by avoiding what she described as inaccurate framing of the situation.
“The world must get the right perspective of the various challenges in the nation to be able to proffer appropriate solutions,” she said in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi. The First Lady noted that conflict resolution requires listening to all sides before concluding.
She praised the former Archbishop for his position that Nigeria’s challenges are best addressed by Nigerians who understand the country’s peculiarities.
According to her, inclusive dialogue remains key to resolving tensions.
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Mrs. Tinubu also called for the inclusion of Nigeria’s security agencies in ongoing and future interfaith engagements to provide insight into efforts being made to secure the country.
“Listening to one side of the story and then concluding is a wrong approach to conflict resolution,” she said.
The First Lady praised the Armed Forces for their continued sacrifices in tackling insecurity.
She urged religious institutions globally to promote values that foster peaceful coexistence, saying the Church needs to “preach right so that people can live right”.
Welby said his visit was part of efforts to advance peace-building initiatives and reinforce Nigeria’s image as a country that upholds freedom of worship.
The cleric announced that a new round of interfaith dialogue was scheduled to hold in London under the auspices of the Global Forum for Peace, Abu Dhabi, led by Sheikh Abdallah Bin Baya.
According to him, the forum will bring together 12 Christian and 12 Muslim leaders to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at addressing interfaith conflicts, not only in Nigeria but globally.
“We want to contribute to what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing to promote peace. All we are after is enduring peace,” he said.
Welby stressed that his visit was also meant to help prepare the ground for meaningful deliberations.
The cleric was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.
The meeting comes about a month after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, during which the First Lady participated in interfaith engagements, including a church service at Lambeth Palace.
In a separate engagement, Senator Tinubu also hosted the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who briefed her on the progress made under the ministry’s Girls in Tech programme.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Tijani said the First Lady would host a dinner in Abuja to showcase innovations developed by participants in the initiative.
He also revealed that she had agreed to serve as the face of a new campaign aimed at deepening internet penetration and expanding connectivity in rural and riverine communities.
