First Lady Donates 140,000 Books to Public Schools

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has handed over 140,000 copies of storybooks on girl-child development to the Federal Ministry of Education for distribution to public school libraries across Nigeria, reaffirming her commitment to promoting education and empowering young people through literacy.

The books, comprising seven different titles published by the Merck Foundation, were reproduced by the Office of the First Lady after she wrote the foreword to the collection. They are designed to promote confidence, empathy, healthy living, gender equality and social responsibility among schoolchildren.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the First Lady said investing in the education and personal development of young girls remains central to her vision of building a society where every child has the opportunity to fulfil his or her potential.

She stressed that although the books focus largely on girl-child development, the lessons they contain would also benefit boys by encouraging positive values and responsible behaviour.

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“I am committed to strengthening the hands of young girls to shape a future that matches their dreams,” she said, adding that her office would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Tinubu described the partnership with the Merck Foundation as one of the key outcomes of her Renewed Hope Initiative’s international collaborations, noting that the foundation has continued to support healthcare, education and social development across Africa.

“It gladdens my heart that I am able to partner with the Merck Foundation on this. Through our partnership, the foundation has provided 91 medical scholarships that are helping to strengthen the health sector in Nigeria,” she said.

Presenting the books to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the First Lady expressed confidence that the ministry would ensure their effective distribution to public school libraries nationwide so that children from different backgrounds could benefit from the lessons contained in them.

She emphasised the importance of providing girls with educational resources and other forms of support needed to navigate the challenges associated with their growth and development.

Receiving the books on behalf of the ministry, Alausa commended the First Lady for her sustained commitment to education and youth development.

He noted that the publications address critical issues affecting girls, including gender discrimination, sexual violence and self-confidence, while promoting values capable of shaping responsible future leaders.

The minister also praised the First Lady’s broader contributions to national development, saying many of her initiatives have inspired programmes within the education sector.

He cited the ministry’s “One Day Minister” initiative during the recent Children’s Day celebration, describing it as an idea inspired by a similar programme introduced by Oluremi Tinubu during her time as the wife of the Lagos State governor in 2007.

Alausa assured the First Lady that the books would be distributed across public schools nationwide to maximise their impact on learners.

With the official handover completed, the Federal Ministry of Education has commenced the nationwide distribution of the books to public school libraries as part of efforts to promote reading culture, character development and inclusive education among Nigerian children.