ANAMBRA RALLIES FOR MOTHER OF THE NATION'S VISIT

By Law Mefor Anambra State is aglow with anticipation as it prepares to host Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Thursday, 10th Sept. 2026. The Anambra State Government describes her visit as essentially for the 'Launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme – South East,' which will bring further federal presence, renewed hope, and a strong message of partnership to the people of Anambra. From the moment her itinerary was announced, communities across the state have mobilised. Market women, youth groups, students, and traditional institutions are preparing to welcome the Mother of the Nation as a symbol of the caring leadership defining President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. Commissioning Projects That Touch Everyday Life The First Lady's schedule reflects a deliberate focus on the fundamentals: education, food security, and economic opportunity. First on the list is the commissioning of a state-of-the-art ICT centre at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. The centre was established to bridge the digital divide for students in Anambra and the South-East and to equip the next generation with skills for the global economy. This will complement what Governor Soludo's administration is doing in the area of tech and innovation at the Solution Innovation District (SID). With computers, internet access, and training hubs, the facility is expected to serve thousands of students yearly in software development, data analysis, digital marketing, and remote work readiness. For many parents in Anambra, the project represents a direct investment in their children's future. Next, Mrs Tinubu will launch the National Community Food Bank Programme – South East Zone at the Old Government House, Amawbia. The Food Bank is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative's national nutrition drive targeting children and nursing mothers. It will operate as a structured intervention to support widows, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families facing economic hardship. Beyond the distribution of food items, the bank is designed to link beneficiaries to nutrition education and agricultural support, ensuring dignity and sustainability, not just handouts. This is consistent with Mrs Tinubu's philosophy that empowerment must be practical. In previous outreaches in other states, she has insisted that support should come with mentorship, not just materials. For a state known for its enterprising spirit, Anambra's First Lady's programme, supported by Nigeria's First Lady, is welcomed as a timely boost. Mrs Tinubu is Regarded as a Role Model and a Mother to the Nation What makes Mrs Tinubu's visit resonate beyond the projects is who she is to Nigerians. Over the decades, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has built a public identity around service, discipline, and compassion. As a three-term senator representing Lagos Central, she was known for bills and motions focused on women, children, education, and social welfare. As First Lady of Lagos State for eight years, she pioneered scholarship schemes, health interventions, and support for the vulnerable that are still referenced today. But it is her role as a mother figure that people connect with most. She has consistently preached values of hard work, faith, family cohesion, and community support through her speeches and actions. She often reminds Nigerians that nation-building starts from the home. She frequently reminds Nigerians that nation-building begins at home and that empowering mothers stabilises societies. Sacrifice, Partnership, and Support for the President Mrs Tinubu's story is also inseparable from that of her husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Long before Aso Rock, she was already a significant political figure. She could have continued an active legislative career. Instead, she made the personal decision to step back from frontline elective politics to support her husband's presidential ambition and, now, his presidency. That sacrifice has not meant silence. As First Lady, she has become the administration's most visible advocate for its social programmes. Through the Renewed Hope Initiative, she has taken the President's policy of 'leaving no one behind' to the grassroots. She has ensured that the human face of government is felt in every state. Her presence in Anambra is therefore both symbolic and strategic. It signals that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not an Abuja project alone. It is a national project, and no state is being left out, regardless of political differences. A Solidarity Visit with Anambra Leadership The Anambra State Government and the Office of the Anambra First Lady are jointly hosting the visit. This joint hosting is significant because it demonstrates unity of purpose. The people of Anambra are also expected to turn out in large numbers, celebrate progress, and reaffirm their place in the Nigerian project. Analysts suggest that the political significance of Thursday's event is profound in a positive way. It is about progressives putting aside differences to confront a common enemy: poverty. This is the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda. It is not about slogans. It is about classrooms with computers, kitchens with food, and young people with capital to start a business and digital skills to fit into the global labour markets. Mrs Tinubu has repeatedly emphasised the need for the government to be tangible and impactful. Her visit to Anambra is a practical demonstration of that belief. Looking Ahead As Anambra prepares to welcome the august visitor with enthusiasm, both expectations and hope are elevated. The ICT Centre at Oko will train the coders and designers of tomorrow and families will be fed today and tomorrow by the Food Bank at Amawbia. In receiving Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Anambra is not just hosting the First Lady. It is welcoming a partner, a mother, and a woman whose life has been defined by service. Her visit reminds us that leadership is ultimately about people. And when a mother comes to visit, she comes to lift, to encourage, and to ensure that no child is forgotten. Anambra is ready. The Mother of the Nation is coming. · Dr Law Mefor serves as Anambra's Information and Value Reformation Commissioner.