L-R: Father of the 12-year-old artist who recently presented a portrait of the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, to her in Abeokuta; Mr Bosun Morenikeji, Senior Special Assistant, Public Administration, Office of the First Lady of Nigeria; Mrs Adeola Bali; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Wahab Alawiye-King, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady of Nigeria; the artist’s mother, Mrs Taiwo Morenikeji; and the young artist, Ebunoluwa Morenikeji, holding a dummy cheque of ₦10 million, representing the cash gift promised her by Oluremi Tinubu in Abeokuta.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has fulfilled her ₦10 million education pledge to 12-year-old Ogun State artist, Master Morenikeji Ebunoluwa Joshua, less than a month after being impressed by his artistic talent. The ₦10 million Education Development Trust Fund, presented to Joshua through the Ogun State Government, is to support his education through the tertiary level.
The First Lady had announced the pledge on August 18 after spotting Joshua displaying a portrait he had painted of her at the launch of the South-West Zonal National Food Bank Programme at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. Impressed by the quality of his work, Senator Tinubu invited the young artist to the podium and immediately pledged ₦10 million towards his future education.
Presenting the cheque on behalf of the First Lady, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described the fulfilment of the pledge as a demonstration that “a promise made is a promise kept.” Abiodun said the gesture went beyond the financial value of the donation, describing it as an investment in a young Nigerian whose talent had been identified and encouraged.
He commended Joshua for his artistic ability and determination to showcase his work, urging other young people to identify, develop and promote their God-given talents.