Remi Tinubu urges women to build capacity for public office

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has advised women aspiring to public office to prioritize higher education and cultivate strong grassroots connections, emphasizing that these are crucial for effective governance beyond the basic constitutional requirement of a school certificate.

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I tell people that the minimum requirement to run for an office is just a school certificate. But what is good is to have a lot of education.

Speaking to state and zonal women leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that while a school certificate suffices for candidacy, advanced education is vital for developing the competence and capacity needed to serve constituents effectively. Her remarks followed recent APC primaries where several prominent female lawmakers failed to secure nominations, underscoring challenges faced by women in politics.

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I don't sing my own praises, but I am a silent worker. I work seven days a week. I connect with the grassroots.

Tinubu drew upon her own extensive political career, having served three consecutive terms as a senator representing Lagos. She stressed the importance of consistent community engagement, citing her practice of holding quarterly town hall meetings for eight consecutive years. She stated, "I don't sing my own praises, but I am a silent worker. I work seven days a week. I connect with the grassroots."

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I tell some of my female leaders, ‘If I find it difficult to reach out to you, how do you want your constituents to reach out to you?’

She also cautioned against women losing touch with their constituents after winning elections, a failure she has observed. "Some people will come to the office and forget," she remarked, contrasting this with her own approach. Tinubu underscored that politics is fundamentally about "numbers" and building trust, urging women leaders to be accessible and maintain relationships with the people who elected them.

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Some people will come to the office and forget. Many women have never come to ask, ‘How did you do it?’ But me, I have ment