Senior Citizens have poured encomiums on the Wife of the Nigerian President, Mrs Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu as she empowered a number of them under her ‘Renewed Hope Initiative across the country.
The senior citizens, who were treated to a lavish Christmas party and free medical treatment at the Calabar International Convention Centre, CICC, expressed gratitude to Mrs Tinubu for the initiative.
Two hundred and fifty selected beneficiaries received N100,000 each to enable them to establish small-scale businesses aimed at improving their economic status.
Other gifts were Christmas packages containing some food items and clothing given to them through the Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Reverend Eyoanwan Otu.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Maria Obase in a smile said, “this gifts are really wonderful to me. This will aid me out of a particular situation, which I knew wouldn’t have been easy for me. This money is really going to help me address the situation and I do not need to go to the market to buy anything and even clothes. It has really helped me.”
Another elderly woman, Ma Atim Ukpong, who was barely able to walk due to old age said, “I am indeed very grateful for this gifts. I thank our first lady Mrs Tinubu and our President Bola Tinubu. I am also grateful to the wife of our Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu for this gifts. I pray God to continue to give them the strength to do more for us all.”
The 71 year old Peter Jackson, who was seen holding his packages in a tight embrace, described the items as a wonderful though belated birthday gift for a man born on November 30, 1952.
In a joyous tone, she said; “I am so happy, so much happy for a day like this. I thank our first lady, Pastor Tinubu and the governor’s wife, Mrs. Otu for making sure that people like me, who have no one benefit from this Christmas party. They also got doctors to take care of us. May God bless them.”
Another elderly, Mr. Stanislaus Effiom, who received food items at the Christmas party said, “I wish I heard of the venue early enough, but I am still very happy that I got the rice package. This has made my day and I am still grateful even if I did not get any cash. The crowd here is overwhelming and for almost everyone to be accommodated, is an ingenious achievement.”
Defrays medical bills
Meanwhile, the Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Reverend Eyoanwan Otu decided to distribute fifty thousand (₦50,000.00) naira each to nearly 300 more people including widows below 60 years as well as offered to defray the medical bills of those with serious medical conditions.
She said, “the free medical treatment is part of the first lady’s Renewed Hope Agenda to cushion the harsh economic conditions on our elderly. I have personally directed that all serious cases found during this medical outreach be referred to the state government’s owned tertiary hospitals for further care at no cost to the beneficiaries.”
“Now, since there are more than the 250 elderly beneficiaries for this scheme, I have decided to donate fifty thousand naira each to others not initially captured for the exercise. Old age is not a curse, but a blessing and aging gracefully is a gift from God. So, this is our first lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu’s way of appreciating our senior citizens,” she further stated.
The occasion featured different cultural displays, a special dance session for the senior citizens and Mrs. Otu as well as distribution of nearly two thousand Christmas packages to those present including some homeless individuals.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
