President Bola Tinubu celebrated First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on her 66th birthday in Abuja on Sunday, September 20, 2026, describing his wife as his “truest friend and confidante” and thanking her for the patience, courage and faith she has shown throughout their life together.
In a deeply personal birthday message, President Tinubu reflected on the years they have shared, portraying Oluremi Tinubu not only as his wife but also as someone whose counsel and honesty have helped him through demanding periods of public and private life.
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“Today, I celebrate the woman who has walked beside me with patience, grace and uncommon courage,” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu recalled the Yoruba saying, “Ìyàwó rere ni adé ọkọ rẹ̀”, which means “A good wife is her husband’s crown”, and linked the expression to the qualities he believes Oluremi Tinubu has brought to their marriage.
“You have given these words true meaning in my life. You have stood by my side through every season,” he said.
The President said the pressures he had carried over the years had often been shared by his wife, while thoughts he struggled to express were sometimes understood without explanation.
He recalled moments when uncertainty surrounded their lives and said Oluremi Tinubu remained calm, offering prayer and companionship.
“In difficult times, when the future was uncertain, you stayed calm beside me and prayed with me,” President Tinubu said.
One of the more intimate moments in the message came when President Tinubu described the First Lady’s ability to recognise when he needed advice, sometimes before he asked for it.
“More often than not, you sense when I need counsel before I ask. There have been nights when your presence alone was counsel enough,” he said.
President Tinubu also placed particular emphasis on Oluremi Tinubu’s willingness to challenge him privately when necessary.
“I call you my truest friend and confidante because you speak the truth plainly, even on the days I would rather not hear it,” he said.
He said he had valued that honesty throughout their marriage, recalling how his wife would sometimes wait until they were alone after a demanding day before telling him what she believed he needed to hear.
Beyond their relationship, President Tinubu highlighted Oluremi Tinubu’s influence within their family.
“Our home bears the lasting imprint of your devotion. Our children and grandchildren have grown beneath the shelter of your prayers. They carry your values of faith and kindness wherever life takes them,” he said.
The President also acknowledged his wife’s public humanitarian work, pointing to her involvement with the New Era Foundation during their years in Lagos and her work through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
President Tinubu said those efforts had reached young people, widows, elderly citizens and women farmers across Nigeria.
He further praised Oluremi Tinubu’s advocacy for people affected by tuberculosis and other diseases, describing her as “a compassionate advocate and a determined champion”.
President Tinubu said her humanitarian outlook extended beyond ethnic, regional and religious distinctions.
“For you, compassion has never recognised the boundaries of tribe, region or religion,” he said.
The birthday message also offered a glimpse into the couple’s shared history, with President Tinubu describing their journey as one shaped by difficult decisions, sacrifices, prayer and moments of laughter.
“A long journey teaches a man the true value of a good partner. We have travelled a long road together,” he said.
In one of the strongest personal declarations in the message, President Tinubu said he would make the same choice if he were given the opportunity to begin his life again.
“If life returned me to the beginning, I would choose the same road that led me to you. Through every mile, my heart has always remained at home with you,” he said.
President Tinubu ended the message with a birthday prayer, thanking his wife for the life and love they had built together and wishing her continued health and happiness.
“I thank you for the life we have built and the love that has held it together,” he said.
“Happy 66th birthday, my darling Oluremi. I pray that God Almighty will grant you many more years in good health and joy.”
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He added: “May the years ahead bring you the same comfort and happiness you have so freely given to me and many others.”
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
