Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to stop running down the country’s image, insisting that the world now regards Nigeria as a nation of opportunity and growing global interest.

Mrs Tinubu, who was in Gombe to commission the newly established Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Kumo, stated this while speaking during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Emir of Akko. She said the era when Nigeria was branded the “most corrupt country” is over. She argued that international perception of the country is shifting positively and that Nigerians must embrace national pride.

“Calling on us as Nigerians, stop badmouthing your nation. Gone are the days when they say Nigeria is the most corrupt country. You won’t hear that again,” she declared. “Even when I go abroad, when they hear you’re from Nigeria, everybody’s interested. They want to come to Nigeria. Nigeria is the next destination,” she added.

The First Lady praised Gombe’s natural scenery, describing it as comparable to the English countryside. She stressed that Nigeria’s unique beauty, combined with its vast human potential, should make citizens more confident about the country’s future.

“We have to be proud. Your landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like that. You see that in the London countryside, but I’m seeing it here in Gombe and in other states too,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu linked her call for national pride to the administration’s ongoing programmes in security, education, and grassroots development, noting that traditional and religious leaders have vital roles to play in shaping citizens’ attitudes.

She further explained that her work as First Lady is driven by a desire to leave Nigeria better after her husband’s tenure. She said, “I’m 65 years old now, I pray I live long. But I’m working so hard so that when my husband finishes his tenure, me too I can walk around safely. That is what drives me.”