From Abdul Salaudeen, Ilorin
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, ended her three-day working visit to Kwara on Thursday with a tour of the Garment Factory, another signature project of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the biggest of its kind in the country.
Accompanied by the wife of the Vice-President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Senator Tinubu interacted with workers in the factory.
“What your governor has done is to create opportunities for enterprise and productive engagement of youths and women. I want you to work hard and become successful. I am here purposely to encourage you to make this a huge success for yourself and for your state,” she told the workers.
The third day of the visit began with a launch of the Free to Shine Campaign, an initiative of the Organisation of African First Ladies, OAFLAD, that is mobilising support to end new HIV infections and protect children and women.
The first two days of the visit were spent inaugurating different iconic projects of the Abdulrazaq administration, leading the groundbreaking ceremony for another one, and visiting a few others.
Some of the projects include an ultramodern Intensive Care Unit; Dr Amuda Aluko Ward; General Tunde Idiagbon Flyover and Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari Flyover.
The first lady also had a dinner at the remodelled Flower Garden, an activity that holds a symbolic importance in how the governor has made positive turnaround for many state facilities.
She had on Tuesday launched an ICT Community Centre executed by NITDA in collaboration with her Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI.
On Wednesday, she flagged off the construction of Oluremi Tinubu Hospital, a major project of the government and toured Ilorin Innovation Hub, an imposing facility which already attracted important partnerships from technology giant, IHS Towers and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.
The first lady also visited the Sugar Factory Film Studio, commending the governor for his transformative agenda and pledged N350 million to support the production of a movie inspired by local cultural legacies and values.
Speaking at the Free to Shine programme in the morning, Tinubu said the campaign was designed to significantly reduce the number of new HIV and other new infections among women of reproductive age, prevent mother-to-child transmission, and guarantee that every child born with HIV receives the necessary treatment and support to strive.
She said Nigeria shares the highest burden of the spread of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among youths, women and children, adding that this is partly as a result of the rise in population.
“To complement the Free to Shine campaign, I have also decided to advocate for the triple elimination of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis. This campaign will be held across the six geopolitical zones,” the first lady said.
Governor AbdulRazaq commended the first lady for championing the OAFLAD Free to Shine Campaign to end new infections in children and ensure that mothers stay alive.
“Three days ago, we received reports about a significant shift in global HIV/AIDS policies and funding. This change will have far-reaching effects in Africa and we must act swiftly to minimise its impact on millions of Africans living with HIV,” he said.
The governor pledged the support of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, to raise awareness, mobilise resources and ensure that people living with HIV receive the care they need to live healthy and productive lives.
