Ooni & Oluremi Tinubu Storm OAU, Donate Digital Dream Centre And 80 Vehicles For Students
Posted on January 30, 2026
The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC) Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday stormed Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, where they inaugurated the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre and donated 50 buses and 30 tricycles to ease transportation challenges facing students and staff of the institution.
The event, which took place at the campus, attracted prominent traditional rulers and political leaders, including the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole; the Osun APC governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; as well as wives of several state governors.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Dream Centre, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub, was built by the Ooni of Ife in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to promote digital learning, artificial intelligence, storytelling and leadership development among young people.
Speaking at the inauguration, the First Lady said her desire was to serve as a role model and case study for young girls, noting that positive role models were increasingly scarce in society.
“All along, I have been thinking that I should be a case study for young girls. People talk about the girl child all the time, but nowadays many young people no longer have people to emulate,” she said.
She urged young girls to dream positively and believe in their God-given potential, recalling how she dreamt of becoming a teacher while growing up and eventually achieved that ambition.
According to her, the Dream Centre would house a storytelling room where her life experiences and lessons would be shared to inspire future generations.
“This centre is not for girls alone; it is also for boys. It is a place of dreams, learning and inspiration for everyone,” Tinubu added.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, described the centre as a unique blend of technology and history, aimed at preserving knowledge for future generations.
“This centre converts the power of digital technology and storytelling to preserve our history, so that our younger ones will have access to the tools they need to navigate their lives,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Ooni described the inauguration of the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre as a historic investment in the future of Nigerian youths and a powerful symbol of purposeful leadership.
He said the centre was conceived as a legacy project that would outlive the present generation and continuously inspire young Nigerians to embrace knowledge, innovation and integrity.
According to him, the Dream Centre represents more than a physical structure, as it embodies values of discipline, resilience, vision and service to humanity, which he said the First Lady has consistently demonstrated in public life.
“In the last two years, you have been in this campus three times. That shows your genuine commitment to education and the development of our youths. You have been a pillar of support to this institution and to the Nigerian educational system as a whole,” the Ooni said.
He noted that the Dream Centre would serve as a hub for digital creativity, leadership training and storytelling, where young people would not only acquire technological skills but also learn the importance of character, history and national values.
The Ooni added that through the centre, students would be exposed to global opportunities in information technology, artificial intelligence and innovation, while remaining deeply rooted in African identity and culture.
“If I have my way, I will celebrate you every day, because what you are doing today will speak for generations yet unborn. Your legacy will continue to be alive, not just in my lifetime, but far beyond,” the Ooni stated.
He also commended Senator Tinubu for her passion for youth empowerment and nation-building, describing her as a mother figure whose contributions to education, women development and social welfare would remain indelible in the history of the country.
The Ooni further urged students of OAU to take full advantage of the facility and the transportation support, stressing that such opportunities come with responsibility.
On the donation of 50 buses and 30 tricycles, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, described the gesture as unprecedented and a major intervention in the institution’s transportation system.
“We thank the First Lady for her generosity. This donation will significantly ease the movement of students, staff and members of the university community,” he said.
The President of the OAU Students’ Union, Oluwatodimu David, also expressed appreciation, saying the vehicles would help resolve long-standing transportation challenges on campus.
“We see the First Lady as not just the mother of the nation, but also a mother to the OAU community,” he stated.
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