Remi Tinubu responds to viral video from Delta event

The Office of the First Lady of Nigeria has responded to a viral video showing students’ chants during the recent visit of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Delta State.

The video, widely circulated on social media, captures students welcoming both the First Lady of Nigeria and the First Lady of Delta State during the Renewed Hope Initiative’s donation event at the Dome Event Centre, Asaba, on 25 March 2025.

The initiative, which saw the distribution of 10,000 professional kits to midwives in the South-South region, was aimed at motivating midwives and reducing infant and maternal mortality rates across the country. The First Lady expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception extended to her by the Delta State Government, the people of the state, as well as nurses, midwives, women’s groups, and student nurses who attended the event.

However, a particular segment of the video, reportedly filmed by some students, showed an improvised and playful variation of the welcome song. In response, it has emerged that students from the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences have been issued a query regarding their participation in the chants.

In a statement signed by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady emphasised the need to balance discipline with self-expression in academic institutions. While acknowledging the right of institutions to maintain order, the statement noted that students often express excitement in a light-hearted manner.

“The Office of the First Lady believes that educational institutions should foster an environment where students feel safe to express themselves while maintaining decorum,” the statement read. It further highlighted that the First Lady’s visit was meant to inspire and uplift healthcare professionals and urged that the experience be remembered positively.

The statement concluded by expressing trust in the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences to address the matter with fairness and understanding, ensuring that students continue to learn in an atmosphere that promotes both discipline and free expression.