The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has said that her dream is to be a good case study and role model for younger girls, given the lack of such figures in the present generation.
Tinubu made the statement at the inauguration of the “Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre” on Thursday at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun .
9news Nigeria reports that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre was built by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“All along, I have been thinking that I should be a case study for young girls.
“They talk about the girl child all the time, but nowadays people no longer have role models.
“We live in an age where even when people are doing well, out of envy, many untrue things are said about them on the internet.
“And our young people do not really see many people to emulate,” she said.
Tinubu said that role models were the people who helped shape her life.
The First Lady also urged young girls to learn how to dream positively, saying she had dreamt of becoming a teacher while growing up and eventually achieved that dream.
“As young as I was then, just like the two girls who welcomed me here, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I ended up being one,” she said.
She, however, said that the ICT centre had always been a place of dream for her, adding that the “Dream Centre” would tell young girls her life story.
“There will be a room called the storytelling room. That is where I will talk about my story.
“This centre is not for girls alone; it is also for boys. We have books and materials that we brought in.
“Some will be given out for free, while others will be kept in a small library where you can read and leave,” she said.
She urged young girls not to be overly ambitious, adding that whatever they would become had already been deposited in them by God.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said the centre would serve as a vision of digital technology, artificial intelligence and storytelling to preserve history.
“This is a unique centre that converts the power of technology and storytelling to preserve our history, so that our younger ones and generations to come will have access to our history and the tools to navigate their lives.
“Without history, it will be difficult to pass knowledge to this generation and the next.
“This centre is designed to preserve the life and history of our First Lady, and we thank Kabiyesi for building it,” he said.
In his remarks, Oba Ogunwusi commended the First Lady for her tireless efforts towards educational development in the country.
The Ooni said the centre would preserve the legacy of the First Lady in his lifetime and beyond.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, also commended the Ooni, the First Lady and NITDA for the centre.
