CITIZENS COMPASS–First Lady of Nigeria, Remi Tinubu, has reacted to a viral video where the students of Delta State College of Nursing Sciences, Agbor, rejected her as our “mother”.
The video captured the nursing students saying the First Lady was not their mother.
This occurred during the Renewed Hope Initiative event on March 25, 2025, at the Dome Event Centre in Asaba, where the First Lady was part of a programme aimed at donating 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the South-South zone.
The event was designed to encourage and motivate healthcare professionals, particularly midwives, in their efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.
In the video, students from the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences, Agbor were seen reacting to a song led by the event’s Master of Ceremony, who referred to Mrs. Tinubu as the “mother of the nation.”
However, the students playfully altered the song, suggesting that she was not their mother.
The chanting drew attention, and the video quickly went viral, sparking conversations on social media.
In response to the incident, Mrs. Tinubu’s media aide, Busola Kukoyi, released a statement on behalf of the First Lady.
The statement downplayed the situation and declared that the First Lady deeply appreciated the warm reception she received from the Delta State government, healthcare workers, and nursing students.
The visit was meant to inspire and uplift healthcare professionals and contribute to the nationwide fight against maternal and infant mortality.
The statement acknowledged the playful nature of the students’ response and pointed out that such expressions of excitement are not uncommon.
It also noted that while the Office of the First Ladyrespects the authority of educational institutions to maintain discipline, students should be allowed to express themselves in a respectful and light-hearted manner when they are caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment.
Further reports indicated that some of the students involved in the chants had been issued queries by the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences.
The First Lady’s office expressed hope that the matter would be handled fairly and with understanding, balancing the need for discipline with students’ freedom of expression.
Mrs. Tinubu’s team stressed that the event’s purpose was to motivate healthcare professionals and foster positive change in the sector, urging that the incident not overshadow the main goal of the visit.
