First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for greater investment in the empowerment of rural communities, describing them as the foundation of national development.

First Lady Tinubu made the call in a statement she issued on Sunday in commemoration of the 2025 World Rural Development Day.

With this year’s theme, “Rural Development: Resilience to Global Change,” the First Lady underscored the urgent need to equip rural populations with the tools and support needed to withstand and adapt to mounting global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and social unrest.

“Rural communities are the bedrock upon which lasting national development is built,” Senator Tinubu declared, emphasising that sustainable development cannot be achieved if vast segments of the population remain excluded or under-resourced.

The First Lady’s message comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the compounded effects of climate variability, food insecurity, and regional development disparities.

In recent years, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out a number of initiatives aimed at rural revitalisation, including targeted agricultural support programs, rural electrification projects, and grassroots entrepreneurship schemes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Senator Tinubu’s call aligns with ongoing federal efforts, but her message added a moral and strategic urgency to the national conversation on inclusive development.

“We need to empower our rural populations to adapt and thrive in the face of the growing challenges,” she said, noting that resilience in the rural sector is not just a local necessity, but a global imperative.

She also emphasised unity and collective responsibility in achieving the nation’s rural transformation goals: “Let us work together to ensure that no community is left behind as we build a stronger, more resilient Nigeria.”

World Rural Development Day, observed globally on July 6, is dedicated to highlighting the importance of rural communities and drawing attention to the need for equitable development.

She concluded with a rallying call to all stakeholders, from policymakers to private sector players, civil society actors to community leaders, to double efforts in ensuring that rural voices are heard, and their needs prioritised.