First Lady Remi Tinubu has spoken about the reactions that trailed her visit to the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences.
Tinubu had, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, visited the Dome Event Centre in Asaba, the Delta State capital, for a solidarity programme targeted at healthcare workers in the state.
The wife of the president, at the event, donated 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the South-South geopolitical zone.
During the ceremony, the event host introduced Tinubu using a customary title that referred to her in Pidgin as “our mama”.
Instead of agreeing, the students responded in unison by singing, “na your mama be this”, meaning “she’s your own mother”.
The college management later queried the students and subsequently withdrew the query.
The reversal came after the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, directed the college to rescind its action.
However, the Office of the First Lady in a statement on Friday, March 28, said while it respected the right of institutions to uphold discipline, “it is important to recognise that students, in moments of excitement, often express themselves in a light-hearted and jovial manner.”
The statement added: “The Office of the First Lady believes that educational institutions should foster an environment where students feel safe to express themselves while maintaining decorum.
“The First Lady’s visit was intended to inspire and uplift healthcare professionals, and it is our hope that this event remains a positive and motivating experience for all involved.
“We trust that the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences will handle this matter with understanding and fairness, ensuring that students continue to thrive in an environment that balances discipline with free expression.”
