The managing director of Fortham Publishers Limited, Mrs. Msurshima Chenge, has praised the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for what she described as a “historic and visionary” investment in the country’s educational sector.
Her commendation follows the First Lady’s recent announcement that over ₦20 billion has been raised under the “Oluremi @65 Education Fund”, a fund launched in lieu of birthday gifts during her 65th birthday celebration.
The initiative, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at ensuring the completion of the long-abandoned National Library project in Abuja.
In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Mrs. Chenge described the initiative as a bold and timely move to strengthen Nigeria’s intellectual capital and reinvigorate its reading culture.
“I applaud Her Excellency for this bold and selfless gesture. She turned the spotlight to education and shone a light too bright to quench. This came at a time when it is needed the most,” Chenge stated.
“Women are mothers — they birth, build, sustain, and repair. This is exactly what she has done for our nation. She has reminded us that true leadership is not about self-celebration, but about building lasting legacies that uplift future generations.”
A staunch education advocate and author of over 19 published books, Chenge is also the Founder of the Prudent Women Organization, a platform committed to the spiritual, financial, emotional, and social empowerment of women across Nigeria.
She used the opportunity to call on Nigerians — individuals, institutions, and corporate bodies — to emulate the First Lady’s example and prioritize investment in knowledge and learning.
“Books and knowledge are imperishable investments. Yet, too often we buy only the textbooks mandated by schools while spending freely on clothing and luxuries,” she noted.
“Education is the beginning of our deliverance as a people and as a nation. Let us place true value on knowledge — it is the wealth that never fades.”
As the head of Fortham Publishers Limited, one of Abuja’s leading publishing companies, Mrs. Chenge reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to championing literacy through library development, school reading initiatives, and community outreach programmes.
She concluded by emphasising that the First Lady’s intervention must serve as a catalyst for national introspection and a renewed commitment to educational advancement.
“What Her Excellency has done is more than symbolic — it is strategic. She has taken a meaningful step in nation-building, and we must ensure that the momentum it generates leads to sustainable change in how we educate and empower our people.”
