First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has pledged an additional N1 billion through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to combat tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria. She made this announcement during the 2025 World TB Day Community Outreach in Sauka Village, Abuja, emphasising the need for urgent action.

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted alarming statistics from the World Health Organisation’s 2024 Global TB Report, revealing that one person dies from TB every seven minutes in Nigeria. As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, she reaffirmed her commitment to increased funding, policy reforms, and stronger partnerships to improve TB awareness, treatment, and prevention.

She also stressed the importance of eliminating TB-related stigma and ensuring equal access to healthcare for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. The Federal Government, she noted, is expanding TB testing and treatment centres to make care more accessible.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, echoed her commitment, assuring that Nigeria is on track to eradicate TB by 2030. He reaffirmed the government’s efforts to improve healthcare services nationwide.

In Lagos, the state government marked World TB Day with an awareness walk and a stakeholders’ engagement session. The event, led by Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State’s TB Ambassador, emphasised grassroots participation in tackling TB. She highlighted efforts such as launching TB Ambassadors and Champions to enhance awareness across local communities.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu encouraged creative outreach methods, including music and storytelling, to spread awareness and combat TB-related stigma. The theme for 2025, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver,” was reinforced with the local slogan “We Fit Do Am,” urging Nigerians to take action.