Tinubu Recounts Encounter With Little Girl During Akwa Ibom Visit, Highlights Education Investments
Tinubu Recounts Encounter With Little Girl During Akwa Ibom Visit, Highlights Education Investments
President Bola Tinubu has recounted his encounter with a young girl, identified as JesurealGodswill Riman, during his visit to Akwa Ibom State, describing the brief interaction as a reminder of his administration’s responsibility to secure the future of Nigerian children.
Tinubu shared the experience in a post on his official Instagram account on Saturday night, saying the girl caught his attention while he was delivering a speech.Follow Politics
According to the President, the girl was standing with a flag among the groups that had gathered to welcome him.
He said he invited her forward, hugged her and asked for her name.
“JesurealGodswill Riman,” she replied.
Describing the encounter, Tinubu said, “It was a brief encounter, but one I will remember with great affection.”Follow Politics
He added that holding the little girl reminded him of the millions of Nigerian children whose futures his administration was working to secure.
Highlighting his administration’s investments in education over the past three years, the President said more than one million out-of-school children had been supported to return to learning.
He also said the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme had reached more than seven million girls, expanding access to education and helping them remain in school.
Tinubu further disclosed that his administration had secured $552m through the HOPE-EDU programme to improve learning opportunities for 29 million children, strengthen 65,000 public schools and support more than 500,000 teachers.
He listed the rehabilitation of 38 technical colleges, expansion of practical skills training and the disbursement of over N372bn in student loans through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as other interventions.
The President acknowledged that more work was needed, noting that many families still faced difficulties and several children were yet to enjoy the opportunities they deserved.
“I know there is more to do. I know that many families still face difficulties, and that too many children are yet to enjoy the opportunities they deserve,” he said.
Tinubu added that his administration was working to expand existing programmes and extend their reach to more communities.
“For me, this is what leadership demands. Every child we return to school, every classroom we improve and every opportunity we create is another step towards the Nigeria our children deserve,” he said.
He described the little girl as a reminder of that responsibility and expressed hope that the country being built would be worthy of the dreams of every Nigerian child.
The President ended the post with a message to the girl, saying, “May the Nigeria we are building be worthy of your dreams and those of every Nigerian child. God bless you, JesurealGodswill.”
