Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in Lagos State, south west Nigeria with essential food supplies in the ongoing Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) food outreach.
She also hinted of a planned support project to be launched for the elderly across Nigeria.
Represented at the occasion by Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, the First Lady stressed that the food relief initiative was designed to ease the burden on the most vulnerable.
“This Food Outreach Scheme under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)’s Social Investment Scope was launched in March 2024 to provide food items to Persons with Disabilities and other vulnerable groups in order to support their families,” she said.
Each month, food items are donated to two states under the scheme which is supported by donors.
So far, 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory have benefited from the initiative, with Bayelsa and Sokoto next in line.
Mrs Tinubu seized the moment to highlight other ongoing RHI programmes targeted at empowering women and young people.
“These include the SDG/Renewed Hope Initiative Women Empowerment Programme for the South-West Zone, which provides tools like freezers, cookers, ovens, and generators for small businesses, and the Renewed Hope Initiative/Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme, which will disburse N50,000 each to 500 women per state and the FCT,” she said.
The programme is also backed by a N1 billion fund from the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
She highlighted that a flagship effort tagged ‘Flow with Confidence’ will also provide a year’s supply of sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls nationwide to keep them in school during their menstrual cycle.
“Our goal at RHI is to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which aims to support all Nigerians to thrive and achieve their goals irrespective of their condition or status,” the First Lady added.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the initiative, noting that its direct impact on communities aligns with the THEMES+ agenda of his administration, which places a strong emphasis on social inclusion, health, and economic empowerment at the grassroots.
Timely Support
Receiving the items on behalf of beneficiaries, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, described the outreach as both timely and meaningful.
“Providing essential food items to those in need at this time is both timely and deeply appreciated. I am confident that this gesture will make a significant difference in the lives of today’s beneficiaries,” she said.
Hauwa Abu