Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said the simultaneous observance of Ramadan by Muslims and Lent by Christians sends a strong message of unity and peaceful coexistence to Nigerians.
Speaking during an Interfaith Breaking of Fast (Iftar/Lent) she hosted for women from various sectors, the First Lady noted that the coincidence of the two fasting periods should remind Nigerians of the need to live harmoniously despite religious differences.
According to her, faith traditions emphasise the importance of loving God and loving one another, principles she said should guide relationships among citizens. Senator Tinubu drew from her personal experience of nearly four decades in an interfaith marriage with President Bola Tinubu, stressing that mutual respect and understanding remain key to peaceful coexistence.
She urged women, particularly those in leadership positions or married to public office holders, to play more active roles in promoting service, compassion, and integrity in public life. The First Lady also called on Nigerians to abandon an entitlement mentality and focus on mentoring young people in order to build a stronger and more responsible generation.
In a lecture delivered at the event, Director at the National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Ganiyat Adejoke Adesina-Uthman, spoke on the theme “Serving with Excellence, Compassion and Integrity in Public Life.” She highlighted the growing crisis of trust in public institutions and emphasised that integrity remains essential for effective leadership and public service.
Also speaking, Bishop Sally William Chinebu of Dominion Church International encouraged women to uphold values of excellence, compassion, and integrity in their personal and professional lives. He noted that women have the capacity to influence society positively when they rise with purpose and commitment.
The interfaith gathering attracted several prominent women leaders, including former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan; Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; Wife of former Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio; and Mrs Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Female ministers, judges, members of the National Assembly, and women from different sectors were also in attendance.
