Uneducated Youth, A National Disaster, First Lady Remi Tinubu Warns

First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, has raised a strong alarm over the dangers of neglecting youth education, warning that handing over the future to an uneducated generation would be disastrous for the country.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Merck Foundation, a German non-governmental philanthropic organisation, Mrs. Tinubu reiterated that education remains a central pillar of national development and a key focus of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), her flagship intervention platform.

“I believe once you have an educated population, the country will grow in bounds,” she said. “It will be such a disaster to hand over the future to an uneducated generation.”

The First Lady, in a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, commended the Merck Foundation for its contributions to Nigeria’s health and education sectors, especially its scholarship schemes in reproductive and fertility medicine.

She emphasised the need to intensify efforts in girls’ education and healthcare support, stating that infertility and its associated stigma remain major challenges in many African communities.

Highlighting her initiative’s ongoing work, Mrs. Tinubu said the Renewed Hope Initiative is actively working to increase scholarship platforms for Nigerian youths in a bid to open up greater educational opportunities.

In recognition of her efforts to empower women and girls, the Merck Foundation announced Senator Oluremi Tinubu as the new “More Than A Mother” Campaign Ambassador—a global movement aimed at breaking infertility stigma and promoting gender equality through education and advocacy.

Chairman of Merck Foundation, Prof. Frank Strangenberg-Haverkamp, praised the First Lady’s leadership, noting that Nigeria remains a strategic partner for the Foundation’s mission to transform lives across Africa.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Foundation, also expressed the organisation’s interest in establishing a formal partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, focusing on women’s empowerment, medical outreach, and scholarship opportunities for underprivileged girls.

“Nigeria is very important to us. In you, the Foundation finds a worthy partner, willing and able to expand the frontiers of a shared cause,” Dr. Kelej stated.

The Merck Foundation, established in 2012, provides educational and medical support to underserved communities across Africa and has made significant contributions to building local capacity in healthcare through scholarship and training programmes.

The visit ended with a renewed commitment by both parties to deepen collaboration and accelerate progress on shared development goals.