Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said on Saturday that the era of describing Nigeria as the “most corrupt country” in the world is over, citing what she called a renewed international perception of the country under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during an official visit to Gombe State, where she commissioned several health facilities including the new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Kumo, Tinubu urged Nigerians to promote the country’s image and refrain from “badmouthing” their nation.
“Gone are the days when they say Nigeria is the most corrupt country. You won’t hear that again,” the First Lady said. “Even when I go abroad, when they hear you’re from Nigeria, everybody’s interested. They want to come to Nigeria. Nigeria is the next destination.”
She said Nigeria’s reputation abroad is changing positively due to reforms in governance, security, and economic sectors, and called on citizens to show national pride.
During a courtesy visit to the Emir of Akko, Tinubu also praised the natural beauty of Gombe State, likening its landscape to the English countryside. “Your landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like that. You see that in the London countryside, but I’m seeing it here in Gombe and in other states too,” she said.
The First Lady noted that her advocacy as the president’s wife is driven by a personal desire to see Nigeria prosper beyond her husband’s tenure. “I’m 65 years old now, I pray I live long. But I’m working so hard so that when my husband finishes his tenure, I too can walk around safely. That is what drives me,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to support the administration’s efforts to restore the nation’s lost glory and strengthen its place in the global community.