Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in LokojaWife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged rich Nigerians especially prominent musicians like Burna Boy, Davido and Asake to channel part of their wealth into charitable foundations to help the country’s most vulnerable.
She posited that the huge burden on government alone informed her latest position on the issue.Speaking at the launch of the North-Central National Community Food Bank yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the First Lady appealed to wealthy Nigerians particularly figures in the entertainment industry to back sustained philanthropic efforts.She said: “We have a lot of wealthy people. But our priorities are different. And I think it’s high time we started helping those who need help in the country”.
Mrs. Tinubu cited international examples of entertainers who combine careers with charity work and called for similar commitments at home.She said: “The Burna Boys of this world, Asake, all of them, Davido. We want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money.”
The First Lady also discouraged social stigma against modest, lawful livelihoods and recalled a case of a University graduate who turned to street vending after failing to find formal employment; after assistance, the vendor now employs a dozen people.“Our people should never despise small jobs”.Mrs. Tinubu who announced a further donation of N100million by the Renewed Hope Initiative to the First Lady of Kogi State to provide N50,000 each to 2,000 petty traders.
