The First Lady of Nigeria and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Oluremi Tinubu has urged girls and young women to dream big, saying vision, discipline and preparation remain vital to success.
Mrs Tinubu made the call at the commemoration of three years of impact of her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
The First Lady encouraged young people, especially girls, to develop a clear sense of purpose.
She said; “Dreaming is what keeps any human being going. If you sit and don’t have a dream, a vision of what you want to become, it becomes very tough for you.”
Dream Girl Initiative
Mrs Tinubu said the Dream Girls initiative introduced under the FCT structure of RHI reflects her belief in helping girls build confidence, ambition and character.
She also urged young people to pay attention to etiquette and protocol, saying “such skills are important in public life.”
“You have to learn a lot of things about etiquette and protocol because you don’t know when you will be called upon to do something,” the First Lady.
Improved Lives
Speaking on RHI’s three years of interventions in the FCT under the theme, “Our Stories, Her Impact”, she said the Initiative was designed to improve livelihoods, empower vulnerable groups and create opportunities for better living standards.
Mrs Tinubu said: “The journey of the Renewed Hope Initiative began on 7th July, 2023 with its inaugural meeting at the State House. Thereafter, we hit the ground running by reaching out to communities in need.”
Mrs Tinubu said; “the first intervention came on July 13, 2023, when the Initiative supported victims of the flood disaster at Trademoore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.”
She said the RHI was officially registered on August 9, 2023, and created to complement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through people-centred programmes.
“At the heart of every intervention, every programme, and every outreach, is a person whose life has been touched, a family that has found succour and support, or a community that has been empowered,” she stated.
Mrs Tinubu said RHI had over three years supported women, youths, children, veterans, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups with grants, skills, educational materials, scholarships, health interventions and emergency assistance.
“As we look ahead, let us continue to show compassion, extend a helping hand to those in need, and create opportunities that promote peace, progress, and prosperity for our nation,” the First lady said.
Mrs Tinubu thanked Wives of State Governors, RHI coordinators in the 36 states and the FCT, partners, donors and community leaders for their support.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said RHI had placed women and children at the center of development and turning policy into practicality.
Suleiman-Ibrahim said women had benefitted from skills, agricultural support and small business grants, while girls were being protected through education, mental health and anti-violence advocacy.
She stated that traditional institutions would continue to play key roles in mobilisation and support for women and girls.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmud described the First Lady of Nigeria as a leader who had combined compassion with action.
She said the initiative had gone beyond rhetoric to practical empowerment.
Dr Mahmud said the decision to put money in women’s hands was creating value chain opportunities and helping women move from dependence to enterprise.
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