Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has described Oluremi Tinubu’s recent trip to the United States as highly strategic.
Oluremi Tinubu is Nigeria’s First Lady, the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement on Friday, 6 February 2026, he said the visit helped repair Nigeria’s international image.
He said it countered what he called years of harmful narratives about the country.
Lawmaker Says Trip Shifted High-Level Perceptions
Ibrahim is an Ambassador-designate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs.
The committee operates within Nigeria’s Senate, the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He said the First Lady’s engagement did more than routine diplomacy.
He argued it influenced opinions among powerful decision-makers. Also, he said it created a clearer understanding of Nigeria’s national character.
Event In Washington And Its Significance
The First Lady attended the seventy-fourth National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, District of Columbia, the capital of the United States.
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual gathering that includes political and faith leaders.
Ibrahim said appearing on that platform showed strong soft power.
Soft power is influence built through credibility and relationships, not coercion.
He said this kind of influence is important in modern governance.
Trump Recognition And The Religious Narrative Debate
United States President Donald Trump singled out the First Lady during the event, according to Ibrahim.
He said the president acknowledged her as an ordained Christian pastor.
The senator argued that this public moment challenges claims of state-backed religious persecution in Nigeria.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and it has major Christian and Muslim populations.
He said perceptions of Nigeria’s security issues often shape foreign policy decisions. Because of this, he said the visit helped rebalance those perceptions.
Expected Impact On International Cooperation
Ibrahim said the First Lady helped present Nigeria as diverse and inclusive.
He said the Tinubu administration remains committed to a secular and fair system of governance.
A secular system separates state decisions from religious control, while allowing freedom of worship.
He said the visit could support fairer, merit-based cooperation with global partners.
He added that the United States could be central to future engagement. Meanwhile, he said Nigeria’s image abroad may improve after this intervention.