First Lady and Ooni of Ife Launch High-Tech ‘Dream Centre’ to Fix Nigeria’s Lack of Role Models

In a powerful blend of tradition and modern governance, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Ooni of Ife have joined forces to tackle a “silent crisis” facing the nation’s youth: the shortage of real-life role models. The duo recently gathered at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife to commission the “Dream Centre,” a one-of-a-kind hub built to mentor the next generation of Nigerian leaders.

The facility is more than just a library; it is a tech-heavy laboratory for success. Equipped by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the centre features AI-driven media tools and digital resources designed to help students bridge the gap between their current reality and their future ambitions.

Speaking at the launch, the First Lady got personal, describing herself as a “case study” for young girls who often feel pressured by the fast-paced, sometimes deceptive world of social media. “We live in an age where even when people are doing well, envy leads others to say things that are simply not true on the internet,” she noted, adding that many young people are wandering without direction because they don’t see anyone worth emulating.

The “Dream Centre” includes a unique “storytelling room” where the First Lady’s own journey will be shared detailing her days as a dedicated teacher and a “loyal domestic engineer” (housewife) long before she stepped into the national spotlight. The message to students was clear: success is a slow-cooked meal of hard work, discipline, and divine grace, not an overnight social media miracle.

The Ooni of Ife, who provided the space for the centre within the OAU campus, praised the partnership as a vital investment in “human infrastructure.” To make life even easier for the students who will use the facility, the First Lady also donated a fleet of 50 brand-new buses and 10 tricycles to improve transportation across the university’s sprawling grounds.

With books, digital tools, and seasoned wisdom all under one roof, the Dream Centre is set to become the “Source” of a new kind of Nigerian youth one that values character just as much as a career.