Matawalle Celebrates Remi Tinubu At 66, Praises Her National Impact

Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions to national development as she celebrates her 66th birthday.

Matawalle, in a congratulatory statement signed by his media aide, Ahmed Dan Wudil, in Abuja on Sunday, described the First Lady as a beacon of virtue, compassion and strength.

The minister commended Tinubu’s commitment to women’s empowerment, youth development, education and support for less privileged Nigerians.

According to him, her passion and dedication to national progress have earned her a respected place in the country’s history.

Matawalle said her contributions would be remembered as part of the story of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“When the story of this great nation and President Tinubu’s administration is written, your name will appear in shining letters,” he said.

The minister also praised the First Lady’s resilience and commitment to supporting initiatives to improve the lives of Nigerians.

He said her interventions had provided hope and support to many people, particularly women, young Nigerians and vulnerable members of society.

“Your quiet strength, resilience, and dedication to our beloved nation inspire us all,” Matawalle said.

He described Tinubu as not only the President’s wife but also a symbol of strength and womanhood.

“You are not only a First Lady but also a shining symbol of womanhood and fortitude,” he added.

Matawalle further commended the First Lady’s partnership with President Tinubu, describing it as a source of encouragement and progress for the country.

He said the partnership had contributed to the administration’s efforts towards national development.

The minister wished the First Lady good health, peace, and continued strength to contribute to the country’s development.

“As you mark this milestone, I wish you good health, peace, and continued positive impact on Nigeria,” Matawalle said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has inspected advanced military platforms and secured the manufacturers’ commitment to provide such modern equipment to the Nigerian Armed Forces in its fight against terrorism.

The Minister attended the Czech Air Force Days at Mošnov Airfield in Ostrava and commended the Czech government’s commitment to manufacturing more advanced equipment and platforms, noting that Nigeria would require such platforms to bolster the fight against terrorism and banditry.

A statement by the Ministry signed by Queeneth Iheoma-Hart said the Minister was accompanied by the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), Dr Dahiru Muhammed, and other members of the delegation from the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

The Minister and his delegation, alongside Mr Peter Markvart, CEO of DEFCON, conducted a guided tour of exhibition stands covering both Land and Air platforms.

According to the statement, platforms inspected include: the L-39 Skyfox Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft and the L-410NG Multipurpose Transport Aircraft.

Other stands visited included Colt CZ Group, manufacturers of assault rifles BREN-2, BREN-3, M4, AR-15, Sub-Machine Gun EVO-3, various calibres of arms and ammunition, and ballistic protective gear; and MESIT, producers of tactical radios and the passive surveillance system VERA.

Taking turns, CEOs Mr Andrej Furin, Mr Petr Holouk, and Mr Ivan Ivanov briefed the Minister on the functions and capabilities of their respective platforms and equipment.

Matawalle, who was impressed by the advanced technologies on display, commended the companies for their commitment to manufacturing more advanced equipment and platforms, noting that Nigeria would require such platforms to bolster the fight against terrorism and banditry.

The companies, in turn, assured the Minister of their readiness to provide and support Nigeria with modern platforms equipped with advanced technology for deployment in ongoing operations.

In a related development, the Minister held separate strategic meetings with the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Miroslav Hlaváč, Commander of the Czech Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Josef Trojánek, and Commander of the Czech Air Force, Brig. Gen. Petr Tománek.

The discussions were centred on military support in training, equipment maintenance, and the provision of more technologically advanced platforms for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

In their separate responses, the Czech Chief of General Staff and the Commanders of the Land and Air Forces expressed their intention to provide all necessary support required to assist the AFN in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry in parts of Nigeria.