First Lady Remi Tinubu faced backlash after speaking out against the growing trend of nudity in fashion and urging parents to “salvage our children” from Western cultural influence.
Tinubu made this statement at the #WeAreEqual Campaign by OAFLAD at the State House on Friday.
She noted that nakedness is not acceptable in Nigerian culture, adding that young people are “forgetting” Nigerian cultural values.
The first lady also stated that despite Nigeria not having a Met Gala, the world’s most prestigious and glamorous fashion event, young individuals are showcasing their “nakedness” everywhere while the men are well-clothed.
Nudity, according to Tinubu, is not beautiful and should not be emulated; she, however, urged parents to teach their children by telling them the way it is and that nakedness is not accepted in Nigerian culture.
She stated, “We have to salvage our children. You know, we see the way they dress and they keep forgetting that Nigeria we are beautiful. The moment you can see what they showcase on the stage, I say ‘we are fashionable, we see what is going on’.
“You know we are not having a Met Gala and everyone, their nakedness is just everywhere and the men are well-clothed. So we have to do something. Tell them the way it is. We don’t accept nakedness in our culture. That is not beautiful. It’s not beautiful at all,” Tinubu said.
“And there are beautiful girls, but they should be confident to know they are, and they don’t want to be like they are even mimicking and trying to emulate film stars from America. They don’t know where they come from. Why did Megan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with. We know we don’t lose who you are.”
Netizens lambast Tinubu
However, the First Lady’s statement has been met with a lot of backlash from netizens, with some praising her stance and the majority calling out the hypocrisy of her comments.
Some users, like @DrOaikhena, responded, saying, “But our ladies can marry husbands who forge certificates, push drugs, rig elections, and covet and take forcefully every damn thing in a state. Our ladies can join the husband in doing everything I listed above. NB: The MET Gala is held yearly in New York, USA. New York is better than every corner of Nigeria. The USA is the greatest country in the world. I would rather Nigerians go naked to fix our country than wear clothes and remain the way it is, under criminals who don’t wish the country well. Delusional criminal.”
Others, like @iamcollinsopara, supported Tinubu’s stance, tweeting, “The First Lady is absolutely right. Young Nigerian girls should be embracing their dignity and cultural values, not emulating Western celebrities’ absurd standards. The obsession with such displays is degrading and undermines the true essence of beauty. It’s high time we reject these shallow ideals and promote a more respectful and meaningful representation of ourselves.”
@Daniadeleke tweeted, “This is very true. Nakedness is not beauty. We’re Africans, we’ve roots.”
Meanwhile, many other users also pointed out the perceived hypocrisy of Tinubu’s comments, like @ivoryfhilips, who tweeted, “Charity begins at home, let her advise her daughter.”
@Jiokkycee said, “Good advice, but her daughter needs it more.”
@BrandyUrch said, “It’s because they are hungry. If things were as good as you guys promised Nigerians …no one girl would go naked to attract politicians who steal from the government pulse. Unemployment rate is high, so they are going for work.”
@Odunolaspeaks tweeted, “Our culture condones election rigging and certificate forging.”
@theTrends_room said, “How does people’s dressing concern the government?”
@nnorom_grace also said, “Matthew 5:19 enjoins any great teacher to do and then teach what they preach. Leaders lead by example, if I am so comfortable living with a thief, a fraudster, I have no moral standing in counselling others.”
