By Maryam Farouk
In a historic turn of events, 12-year-old Yusrah Abubakar Suleiman, a student of Evat Model School, Kaduna, has made history as the first flower girl in Nigeria to officially welcome both the First Lady and the President within a span of just three months.
Yusrah, who is affectionately known by family and friends as “the genius flower girl”, rose to national attention following her poised and graceful appearances during two major presidential visits. The first was when she welcomed First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu to Kaduna; the second came just months later, when she was again selected to welcome President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The day I welcomed the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, to Kaduna with flowers was the biggest day of my life, Yusrah said. After she left, I never expected I would be chosen again, But less than three months later, I was called to welcome Mr. President which left my whole family in shock and excitement.
The nomination, according to Yusrah, came as a surprise even to her.
I just found myself being selected, it was my aunt who called my mother and told her about it. I am so grateful to Almighty God for the opportunity and to my parents for their constant support, she said.
Following both high-profile occasions, her family members and neighbors gave her playful nicknames such as “Yusrah the Capacitated Flower Girl,” “Celebrity Yusrah,” and “Uba Sani’s Favorite Girl.”
Her elder brother, Muhammad Abubakar Suleiman, expressed deep pride in her achievements:
“We felt so happy and very surprised because I never thought Yusrah would be nominated,” he said. “We chose her to be a flower girl because she has a passion for being a public figure and the fact is, she is truly a genius.”
He recalled the moment the family received the notification about her first appointment:
“I told her, ‘Yusrah, this is the beginning of your success.’ We both prayed for her. When she was called again to welcome Mr. President, our aunt even teased her, calling her the “capacitated flower girl.”
In a statement by Yusrah’s mother, she clarified that her daughter’s nomination was not a result of favoritism or internal influence.
“Actually, Yusrah didn’t have any connections. Her aunt works in the protocol office and nominated her for the First Lady’s visit. But for the President’s visit, even her aunt didn’t nominate her. The protocol team themselves recommended Yusrah to be the flower girl,” the mother explained.
As her story continues to inspire her peers, Yusrah remains humble and hopeful:
“I pray that all children around the world have bright futures,” she said.
From Kaduna to the nation, Yusrah has become a symbol of grace, humility, and inspiration proving that even the youngest voices can stand at the front of history.
