Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has extended financial support to the families of 22 Kano State athletes who lost their lives in a tragic road accident earlier this year, donating a total of ₦110 million.
According to the spokesperson to the Kano State governor, Sanusi Tofa, each bereaved family received ₦5 million, with the disbursement facilitated through the government-backed Victim Support Fund. The fund is designed to assist Nigerians facing emergencies, tragedies, or crises, helping them cope with both emotional and financial burdens.
“Mrs Tinubu’s gesture has drawn commendation nationwide, with many describing it as a heartfelt display of compassion and national solidarity. The First Lady’s timely response reflects values of empathy and responsive leadership,” the Presidency said in a statement on Friday via its X handle.
The Presidency also noted that the donation was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at restoring citizens’ trust in governance by directly addressing their needs during times of distress.
The support follows a fatal accident in May along the Kano–Kaduna highway that claimed the lives of the athletes. The victims, members of the Kano State contingent returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, were travelling in a Toyota Coaster Bus when the crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. at Gadar Yankifi in Garun Malam Local Government Area.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that the bus had 32 occupants — 31 male adults and one female adult. Twenty-two people died at the scene, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
What you should know
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu donated ₦5 million each to the families of 22 Kano athletes who died in a road accident in May, totalling ₦110 million.
The disbursement was made through the Victim Support Fund to provide relief for emotional and financial hardships.
The victims were returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State when their bus crashed along the Kano–Kaduna highway, killing most of the occupants.
