Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday commissioned the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in a ceremony attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, wives of some state governors, NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, royal fathers, university officials, and students.
The centre was established to inspire students to pursue their dreams with purpose and patience through mentorship, storytelling, and reflection. Speaking at the event, the First Lady expressed delight that her life story, shaped by faith, service, and determination, would serve as a motivational resource for young Nigerians.
She noted that the centre encourages students not to covet others’ dreams but to pursue their own with discipline and consistency. “This Dream Centre is for both boys and girls,” she said, emphasizing the importance of equal encouragement for all young people.
The facility houses inspirational books, including her four-part work, The Journey of Grace, designed to show how divine guidance shaped her path and provided students with motivation and direction. She added that the centre evolved from a modest pavilion into a lasting legacy meant to inspire generations.
The Ooni of Ife recalled the project’s origins in 2019 and the initial resistance from the university senate. He said approval for a three-kilometre road named Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way paved the way for the Dream Centre, which was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic but revived upon her becoming First Lady. He praised her, saying: “The Dream Centre was not built for girls alone but for all students,” highlighting the centre’s role in promoting equal opportunity.
NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa described the centre as a space where storytelling, learning, and reflection combine to instil resilience, leadership, and vision in students. “The centre allows young people to engage with Senator Tinubu’s life story in a structured environment designed to motivate them and reinforce the belief that dreams can be achieved through steady effort,” he said.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Bamire called the commissioning a milestone for OAU, emphasizing that the centre complements broader campus interventions aimed at nurturing leaders, innovators, and dreamers. “This is a gift for the future—a place where dreams can take shape,” he said, highlighting its role in academic, moral, and emotional growth.
The building was donated by the Ooni of Ife, while NITDA supplied IT-enabled devices, reflecting a collaborative commitment to student empowerment.
The commissioning ended with a tour of the facility, leaving students and stakeholders inspired by the centre’s potential to influence how young Nigerians think, grow, and pursue excellence for generations to come.
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