First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has donated N100 million to support creative education for children across the country through the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative.
The donation, made on behalf of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), was announced at a Charity Gala Night organised by the Spouses of Heads of Mission in Nigeria, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
The gesture aims to enhance access to arts-based learning for Nigerian children, particularly those from underserved communities.
“On behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative, we pledge N100 million in support of the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative,” the first lady declared. “Your support will help unlock the creativity, talent, and potential of countless Nigerian children who deserve the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
She praised the Spouses of Heads of Mission for their service and engagement in supporting Nigeria’s vulnerable communities, saying their work transcends diplomatic protocol and reflects true partnership. “You are no longer just on official assignment in our country, but worthy partners in progress,” she said.
Senator Tinubu also commended Ms Polly Alakija, the founder of the Five Cowries Initiative, for her decades-long dedication to integrating arts into education and for championing the transformative power of creativity in shaping young minds.
The first lady linked the initiative’s goals to the broader vision of her Renewed Hope Initiative, which she said prioritises educational inclusion. Since its launch in 2023, RHI has awarded thousands of bursaries and scholarships, funded educational infrastructure, and launched alternative education pathways for girls.
She highlighted several interventions, including 5,100 bursary awards for female students in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, scholarships for 47 indigent students nationwide, and the establishment of 40 Alternative High Schools for Girls with UBEC to support young women who dropped out of school due to early pregnancy or child marriage.
“We have distributed over two million exercise books nationwide,” she added, “and we recently launched ‘Flow with Confidence’ to provide menstrual hygiene products to girls in rural areas.”
The first lady urged more individuals and organisations to support the Five Cowries Initiative, stressing that creative education is key to building a confident, resilient generation.
Ms. Alakija, the initiative’s founder and CEO, expressed gratitude for the donation and announced a new partnership with the National Gallery of Art to make Nigerian art accessible to all children through programmes like the Saturday Club.
The gala night, attended by diplomats, artists, educators, and government officials, underscored the power of public-private partnerships in shaping the future of Nigerian children through creativity and education.
