The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has pledged N100 million through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to support the Five Cowries Art Education Initiative.

The announcement was made on Wednesday evening at a Charity Gala Dinner hosted by the Spouses of Heads of Mission in Nigeria at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Tinubu called on the public to support arts education through donations, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.

“On behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative, we pledge N100 million to support 5,000 arts exhibitions across Nigeria,” she said.

The wife of the Nigerian leader commended the Spouses of Heads of Mission for their commitment to empowering vulnerable groups and praised the vision of Five Cowries founder, Ms. Polly Alakija, for her dedication to extending arts education to underserved communities.

“Such innovations,” the First Lady noted, “are crucial for making lasting impacts in key sectors of our society.”

Underscoring the importance of education as a foundation for national development, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted her husband’s administration’s achievements in the education sector.

Since the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative in 2023, the programme has awarded scholarships to indigent students, sponsored learners at home and abroad, and partnered with the Federal Ministry of Education to disburse over 5,100 bursaries to female students.

She further noted the establishment of 40 Alternative High Schools nationwide to provide second-chance education for girls affected by early pregnancy or child marriage.

Additionally, more than two million exercise books have been distributed to support primary and junior secondary education.

Beyond education, the RHI has launched impactful social programmes such as Flow with Confidence, which supplies disposable menstrual pads to girls in rural communities to reduce school absenteeism.

Other initiatives include grants, vocational training, and relief aid, all aimed at uplifting Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

The First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to promoting creative education and applauded those working tirelessly to empower young Nigerians through innovative programmes.

Representing the event’s organisers, Lucrecia Downer, spouse of the Jamaican High Commissioner, stated that the gala aimed to raise additional funds to enhance arts education across the country.

Earlier, Ms. Alakija shared her vision to expand arts education across Africa, emphasising creativity as a vital tool in learning and personal development. She stressed that access to arts and culture must not remain the preserve of the privileged but should be available to all children, regardless of background.

Drawing from her own upbringing steeped in artistic expression, Ms. Alakija spoke of art’s power to instil resilience, nurture soft skills, and foster community engagement.

She also announced a new partnership with the National Gallery of Art to support its Saturday Club, which seeks to make Nigerian art accessible to all children, including those outside the formal school system.

Recounting a poignant story of a community leader who credited a primary school art teacher with shaping his worldview through drawing, she urged guests to invest in Nigeria’s youth through arts education.

Ms. Alakija concluded by thanking her team, the event organisers, and supporters for their dedication to transforming lives through creativity.