Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed cash support to 250 vulnerable elderly residents of Anambra State under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), a federal social investment programme aimed at enhancing the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.
Each beneficiary received ₦200,000 as part of the scheme’s third edition, themed “Finding Joy in Old Age.” The initiative targets citizens aged 65 and above across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as veterans associated with the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
The presentation took place at the Banquet Hall of the Anambra State Government House in Awka, where the wife of the state governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo represented the First Lady and read her address.
According to Senator Tinubu, a total of ₦1.9 billion has been approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative for disbursement to 9,500 beneficiaries nationwide. Under the arrangement, each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA, receives ₦50 million.
Since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in 2023, the First Lady said the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December in recognition of their contributions to national development.
“This social investment programme embodies our commitment to ensuring that our elderly citizens live with dignity and joy, in a nation that genuinely cares for its own
“Through this scheme, we continue to express our gratitude to the men and women who laboured to build the Nigeria we are proud of today.” She said.
Emphasising the significance of the festive season, Senator Tinubu described care for the elderly as both a moral duty and a shared joy, noting that older generations endured hardship to create better opportunities for younger Nigerians.
She urged beneficiaries to seek fulfilment through community, compassion, and continued engagement, encouraging them to remain active, healthy, and purposeful. “Ageing gracefully is not only about longevity but about being surrounded by love, respect, and support,” she added.
Several beneficiaries, including Chief Ilechukwu Ugboaja, Professor Chigbo Okolo, and Mrs Chimezie Okigbo, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the initiative and commended Mrs Soludo for ensuring transparent and full disbursement of the funds.
In addition to the federal support, Mrs Soludo distributed supplementary relief items, including bags of rice and clothing materials, to further assist the elderly recipients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative is one of the flagship humanitarian programmes of Nigeria’s First Lady, designed to complement government efforts in social protection and inclusive development.
PIAK