Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to eliminating tuberculosis (TB) by the year 2030, aligning with global health targets and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 39th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting held in Manila, Philippines, Mrs. Tinubu addressed over 180 delegates from 47 countries. She emphasized that Nigeria is taking concrete steps to reduce its reliance on donor funding and is building resilient health systems to sustain progress in TB eradication.
“Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, and it is airborne—making it a threat to all of us,” the First Lady stated. “The sustainability of our TB response cannot depend solely on external assistance. It must come from within—through leadership, community engagement, and strategic national coordination.”
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s recent achievements, including a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB. She also reiterated the importance of domestic resource mobilization and political will in achieving the 2030 target.
The First Lady’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria is scaling up its TB response through expanded diagnostic services, public awareness campaigns, and integration of TB care into primary healthcare systems. She called on international partners to continue supporting Nigeria’s efforts while encouraging other nations to adopt sustainable, homegrown solutions.
In a show of commitment, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), led by Mrs. Tinubu has already contributed ₦1 billion towards TB and cervical cancer advocacy and treatment programs.