The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has publicly acknowledged Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as “a very respected woman” during the 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast held on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, President Trump drew attention to the presence of the Nigerian First Lady among dignitaries, noting her role as a Christian pastor in one of the largest churches in Nigeria.
We are honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at one of the largest churches. A very respected woman,” Trump said.
First Lady, where are you? Thank you very much. It is a great honour to have you with us.”
The commendation came amid ongoing global discussions about religious freedom and security challenges in Nigeria. However, Mrs. Tinubu dismissed claims of widespread persecution of Christians in the country, describing such narratives as exaggerated and rooted in propaganda.
Tinubu Speaks on Security, U.S. Relations
Meanwhile, speaking at the International Religious Summit in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Tinubu said she viewed President Trump’s focus on the safety of Christians as a form of divine intervention, noting that it has opened opportunities to strengthen diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the areas of security and trade.
The First Lady is in Washington to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, build diplomatic relationships, and address what she described as misconceptions surrounding religious freedom in Nigeria. Her visit comes just over a month after a U.S. Christmas Day missile strike reportedly targeted terrorist elements operating in the country, and a day after a U.S. congressional hearing recommended tougher actions, including sanctions, against countries accused of violating Christian freedoms.
Joined by Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to Nigeria’s National Security Agency, Mrs. Tinubu said President Trump’s intervention should serve as a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
I see Trump’s focus on Christian killing as divine intervention. Divine in the sense that who would have even noticed Nigeria or fully understand what we are grappling with as a nation?” she said in an interview with The Hill in Washington.
She stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and not solely religious in nature.
We are talking about an emerging economy. There are cases of theft, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, these issues are all intertwined,” she explained.
“When kidnappers know that attention is focused on Christians, it can even make them targets.”
Mrs. Tinubu also emphasised the need for a broader bilateral relationship with the United States beyond security concerns.
The relationship we want to build with America, now that we have your attention, is one based on trade and security. You cannot have good trade relations if investments are not secure,” she said.
On whether growing international concern could worsen the situation for Christians in Nigeria, the First Lady dismissed such fears.
No, there is nothing wrong with that. It is a wake-up call for us. We must step up what we are doing and ensure that lives are secured,” she added.
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