IN what appears to be a historic stretch of generosity unmatched in Nigeria’s political history, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has donated over ₦15 billion to victims of disasters, displaced families, widows, women, and the elderly in just over two years through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), News Point Nigeria reports.
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, she was once again in the spotlight as she announced a ₦1 billion donation in Benue State, targeted at victims of the Yelewata’s attack, where over 100 lives were lost in June.
Speaking at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue Government House, she reaffirmed her commitment to the vulnerable: “Our mission is to restore hope, rebuild lives, and renew the Nigerian spirit.”
This donation was only the latest in a growing list of high-impact interventions. From Borno to Plateau, Lagos to Sierra Leone, her office despite lacking constitutional recognition or a statutory budget has deployed staggering sums in aid, often within days of tragedy.
A review of donations made under Remi Tinubu since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 reveals that the RHI has become the most active, well-funded First Lady-led NGO in Nigeria’s democratic era:
₦1 billion for victims of communal attacks in Plateau State (July 3, 2025)
₦1 billion to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (October 10, 2024)
₦1 billion to Nigeria’s National Cancer Fund
₦1 billion to support the tuberculosis eradication drive
₦950 million disbursed to 250 military, police retirees and senior citizens
₦500 million in relief for flood victims in Borno State
₦427.75 million to widows and orphans of fallen soldiers
₦1.9 billion for elderly support across the 36 states and the FCT
₦100 million for Niger State tanker explosion victims
₦150 million (approx.) to build a hospital in Sierra Leone for Nigerians in the diaspora
In just Benue and Plateau States alone, she has donated ₦2 billion to displaced families in under one month.
Compared to her predecessors, Remi Tinubu’s donations are unprecedented.
While Stella Obasanjo, for example, made notable interventions, her largest single donation ₦25 million was for child welfare in 2002.
Turai Yar’adua donated about $150,000 in Liberia and ₦600 million to widows across Nigeria.
Patience Jonathan was known more for donating empowerment items and foodstuff than cash but her single biggest donation was ₦250m for Nigeria’s Woman Intiative .
Aisha Buhari donated ₦750 million to over 500,000 widows and vulnerable Nigerians through her foundation.
But no First Lady before Remi Tinubu has operated on this scale. Her Renewed Hope Initiative is a full-fledged, multipronged humanitarian vehicle offering scholarships, endowments, skills empowerment, healthcare support, housing, and food aid.
In December 2024, for instance, the RHI distributed 22,800 bags of rice and ₦95 million in cash to Christian communities across 19 northern states.
In a separate initiative, the RHI gave ₦1 million each to 500 displaced families in Mangu, Plateau State.
She has also focused on education: endowing ₦50 million to Joseph Ayo Babalola University and providing ₦4 million scholarships to 43 undergraduates.
Given the scale of her donations, questions have emerged about the source of her funding.
Critics note that the Office of the First Lady is not recognized in Nigeria’s constitution and receives no formal budgetary allocation.
But Senator Tinubu has pushed back, explaining that the RHI is a registered NGO, powered by private donors and corporate sponsors.
“People give us money,” she said, while addressing governors’ wives in Abuja, naming BUA Group among the supporters. “Most of our donors prefer to remain anonymous,” she added.
Some International humanitarians told News Point Nigeria that beyond the size of her donations, it is the speed and timing of her interventions that have won her global admiration.
“From Akwa Ibom to Sokoto, Borno to Ogun, she is often the first to arrive when tragedy strikes,” Eunice Gonah, a United Nations humanitarian expert told News Point Nigeria.
“She doesn’t just write cheques, she shows up, Gonah added”
At a time when many political spouses opt for low profiles, Remi Tinubu is redefining what it means to be First Lady: a visible, compassionate, and active humanitarian force.
Her work, supporters argue, speaks to a broader campaign promise made by the Tinubu family: that they sought office not for enrichment, but for impact.
With her projects spanning health, education, agriculture, disaster relief, empowerment, and diaspora outreach, Remi Tinubu has raised the bar for public service by political spouses.
While questions about transparency and constitutional structure remain, there’s no denying that Remi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative is already building a legacy.
In a country where state and federal bureaucracies often fail to respond swiftly to citizens’ suffering, her actions offer an alternative model: lean, donor-driven, and focused on results.
As the humanitarian work of the First Lady enters its third year, the world and citizens alike are watching closely to see whether her model becomes the new standard or remains a singular legacy of one remarkable First Lady.