How the then First Lady of Lagos turned her celebration into life-changing advocacy
In September 2005, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, then the First Lady of Lagos State, marked her 45th birthday in a notably low-key manner. At a time when many public figures favoured grand celebrations, she chose instead to dedicate the moment to children living with sickle-cell anaemia.
The decision was both symbolic and deliberate. As the wife of the Lagos State governor, Remi Tinubu used her platform to spotlight the plight of children battling the genetic condition, reaffirming her commitment to health advocacy during her husband’s tenure.
A Birthday Turned Advocacy Campaign
Rather than hosting elaborate festivities, Mrs. Tinubu channelled attention and resources toward supporting young people affected by sickle cell. Her effort aligned with the mission of the New Era Foundation, which she established to empower youth and promote health awareness across Lagos communities.
A key arm of the foundation, the Genotype Foundation, focused on educating Nigerians—especially young people—about the importance of genotype testing, early awareness, and preventive health choices relating to sickle-cell anaemia.
Her choice to spotlight a health crisis instead of celebrating lavishly earned widespread commendation at the time and reinforced her growing reputation as one of the most socially conscious state first ladies in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Remi Tinubu: A First Lady Known for Social Impact
During her years as Lagos First Lady (1999–2007), Mrs. Tinubu championed initiatives centred on:
health education, especially genotype awareness
youth development programmes
women’s empowerment
community-based philanthropy
Her advocacy surrounding sickle-cell awareness was particularly significant in Lagos, a state with a large youth population and one of the highest genotype-testing gaps at the time.
Today, Oluremi Tinubu continues public service as the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, still engaging in social programmes and health-based outreach.
Sources
Archival reports on Lagos State First Lady activities (2005)
New Era Foundation public health initiatives
