In a bold address just weeks after Meghan Markle’s high-profile visit, Nigeria’s First Lady delivered a stern warning to the nation’s women: Don’t lose yourselves trying to emulate American celebrities.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, did not hold back as she criticized the pervasive influence of Hollywood’s risqué fashion trends.
Speaking in Abuja to mark the first anniversary of her husband’s administration, Tinubu urged teenagers and young people to dress more modestly and reject the revealing styles popularized by US stars.
“We have to salvage our children,” she declared. “We see the way they dress. We are not having the Met Gala. And everyone, the nakedness, is just everywhere and the men are well-clothed. Tell them we don’t accept nakedness in our culture. That is not beautiful. It’s not beautiful at all.”
While Tinubu didn’t explicitly criticize Meghan Markle, she referenced the Duchess’s recent visit to Nigeria where Markle emphasized her Nigerian roots, revealing she is 43% Nigerian according to a DNA test.
“Why did Meghan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with [us]. We know who we are. Don’t lose who you are,” Tinubu stated.
Markle and Prince Harry’s visit to Nigeria, aimed at promoting the Invictus Games, received mixed reactions.
Some experts criticized Markle’s choice of expensive and revealing outfits, suggesting she could have shown “more modesty” in a country where just over half the population Muslim is.
One fashion expert remarked that Markle “bared too much skin” and would likely have dressed more conservatively if the trip had been organized by Buckingham Palace.
In her speech, Tinubu highlighted the beauty of Nigerian women and encouraged them to be confident in their own identity.
“They’re all beautiful girls, but they should be confident in who they are,” she said. “We are fashionable; we see what is going on.”
The First Lady also called on Nigerian women to become unifying forces in their homes and communities, promoting greater prosperity for the nation.
“When mothers stand with you, the house is in order,” she asserted. “Looking ahead, we must endeavor to become the unifying force in our homes and our communities, to bring about greater prosperity for our nation.”
