By : Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro
Nigeria : First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Visits Qatar to Strengthen Ties on Education Reforms
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has arrived in Doha, the capital of Qatar, for a four-day working visit focused on advancing education reforms and finding sustainable solutions for Nigeria’s out-of-school children.
Mrs. Tinubu’s visit, which began on Thursday evening, underscores her ongoing commitment to addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing social challenges—the education and rehabilitation of millions of out-of-school children, particularly those affected by poverty and insecurity in the northern regions.
The First Lady was warmly received at Doha’s Hamad International Airport by officials of the Qatar Foundation and representatives of Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Qatar. Her visit comes at the invitation of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, a global non-profit organisation known for its far-reaching contributions to education, science, and community development across several continents.
The Qatar Foundation has been at the forefront of education-based innovation, with initiatives such as Education City and the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), which provide models for inclusive learning and youth empowerment. By engaging with the Foundation, Mrs. Tinubu hopes to leverage these successful models to enrich Nigeria’s educational landscape, particularly in addressing the learning needs of disadvantaged children.
During her stay, Mrs. Tinubu is expected to hold a series of high-level meetings with Sheikha Moza, Qatar’s Minister of Social Development, Buthaina Al Nuaimi, and other education sector leaders. The discussions will centre on developing collaborative frameworks that can support Nigeria’s efforts to reintegrate out-of-school children into formal learning systems and equip them with relevant life and vocational skills.
Accompanying the First Lady on this mission are key education stakeholders from Nigeria, including the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Dr. Mohammed Sani. Their presence highlights the strategic nature of the visit, which combines advocacy with policy engagement.The Almajiri education system—designed to provide Islamic education—has long faced challenges related to access, quality, and integration into Nigeria’s formal education framework. Many Almajiri children often end up without access to modern literacy or vocational training, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and exploitation.
Senator Tinubu’s visit aims to promote innovative reforms that will modernize this system and ensure that such children receive holistic education that prepares them for a productive future.
According to sources within the First Lady’s office, the Doha visit also forms part of her broader “Renewed Hope Initiative,” a program designed to empower women, children, and vulnerable communities through education, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion. By seeking global partnerships, Mrs. Tinubu intends to complement government efforts to reduce Nigeria’s out-of-school population, which currently stands among the highest in the world.
In addition to the formal meetings, the First Lady is expected to tour selected Qatari education facilities, including model schools and innovation hubs, to gain insights into the country’s approaches to inclusive education, community learning, and teacher development. The outcomes of the visit are anticipated to shape new bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding between Nigeria and Qatar in the coming months.
Observers note that Mrs. Tinubu’s focus on education reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s broader goals of human capital development and social investment. By building partnerships with nations that have successfully integrated traditional and modern learning systems, Nigeria hopes to accelerate its progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
As her engagements continue in Doha, Mrs. Tinubu’s mission represents both a diplomatic and humanitarian effort—one aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of background or circumstances, has access to education, opportunity and hope for better future
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