First Lady insists on reading culture at global summit in US

By Ejire Folakunmi

The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has said books remain indispensable in schools despite rapid technological advancement.

She stated this during a meeting with the US Special Envoy for Best Future Generations, Charles Harder, on the sidelines of the Fostering the Future Together Global Summit organised by the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, in Washington.

Sen. Tinubu explained that reading books is essential for children as it helps broaden their knowledge without distractions from social media and related platforms.

She also noted that education remains a key priority of the administration of Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“If you want to help people, you must first understand who they really are. My husband understands this, just as he did when he was the Governor of Lagos State. He is working to sanitise the system and lay a strong foundation for sustainable development,” she said.

The First Lady further disclosed that child nutrition would soon receive increased attention, with plans to launch a nationwide campaign through her office in the coming days.

In his remarks, the US Special Envoy for Best Future Generations, Charles Harder, said the engagement was aimed at advancing discussions on the welfare and development of the Nigerian child.

He explained that the Best Future Generations initiative, a brainchild of Melania Trump, focuses on addressing issues affecting children globally, including food, nutrition, health and protection from abuse.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the summit, which brought together over 45 First Ladies from different countries to discuss issues affecting children and adolescents, including the impact of artificial intelligence.