First Lady Tasks Youths On Creativity, Positive Focus

The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu has called on the youth to be focused positively and set their minds on creative things.

Senator Tinubu, according to a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, gave the charge when she paid a visit to the Yunus Emre Institute in Maitama, Abuja on the invitation of the First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, Mrs Emine Erdogan.

The Institute which was established by the Turkish Government is to train Nigerians in creative arts and other aspects of cultural exchange between the two countries.

“This Centre provides great opportunities for you to live your dreams as artists. You are not only learning about Turkey, but also actualising your dreams.

“Believe in what you are doing and as long as you set your mind to it, you will succeed. Dream big but do not despise the days of humble beginnings,” the Nigerian First Lady said.

Senator Tinubu, who inspected some of the paintings exhibited by the female Nigerian artists at the centre, expressed her delight at the level of their creativity, while admonishing them to express more positivity in their creative works.

She also visited the classroom of some little children from an orphanage who are going through formal education at the Centre, courtesy of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria.

“I see this as a step towards granting our children scholarships just as we have with the Republic of Belarus. Turkish citizens here should also learn some of our languages,” Mrs Tinubu said.

She also expressed her appreciation to Mrs Erdoğan, not only for her presence at the recently concluded OIC High-Level Seminar on Cancer Awareness hosted by Nigeria, but also for extending an invitation for her to visit the centre saying, “I appreciate the First Lady for all the work she is doing for Africa and also for identifying Africa as the rising sun and light”.

Earlier, the Ambassador to Turkey in Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar while welcoming the First Lady, noted the collaborative efforts between the two nations, especially in the area of cultural exchange and education.

“Our relations have been growing especially in economic issues. We have very good political relations as well. One of the aspects of these relations is of course the cultural aspects of these two countries.

“One of the aims of this Institute is that the Nigerian students that are learning Turkish will have the opportunity of working in Turkish companies, when they come to establish here and even when they go to Turkey,” Bayraktar said.

The Ambassador expressed optimism of a more robust relationship between the two countries.