The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday empowered vulnerable Lagos residents, including families and persons living with disabilities, with essential food items under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) food outreach. She also announced plans to launch a support project for the elderly nationwide.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Mrs. Tinubu said the food relief scheme was designed to cushion the hardship faced by the most vulnerable. A statement by Mrs. Shettima’s media aide, Kwapchi Bata Hamman, explained that the programme, launched in March 2024, targets persons with disabilities and struggling families.
The initiative is supported by the Abdul-Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR) and another anonymous donor, who provide two truckloads of food items monthly for distribution to two states at a time. The Lagos outreach was sponsored by the anonymous benefactor. So far, 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have benefited, with Bayelsa and Sokoto listed as the next recipients.
Mrs. Tinubu also highlighted other ongoing RHI projects, including the Women Empowerment Programme for the South-West Zone, which provides equipment such as freezers, cookers, ovens, and generators for small-scale businesses. In addition, the Renewed Hope Initiative/Tony Elumelu Foundation partnership will disburse N50,000 each to 500 women in every state and the FCT, supported by a N1 billion fund from the foundation.
She disclosed that the initiative will soon launch further projects to assist the elderly and more persons with disabilities. Another flagship programme, tagged Flow with Confidence, is set to provide a year’s supply of sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls nationwide to reduce absenteeism during their menstrual cycle.
“Our goal at RHI is to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, which aims to support all Nigerians to thrive and achieve their goals irrespective of their condition or status,” the First Lady said.
Receiving the items on behalf of beneficiaries, Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described the outreach as timely and impactful. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also commended the initiative, noting that it aligns with the THEMES+ agenda of his administration, which emphasizes social inclusion, health, and grassroots empowerment.
Beneficiaries of the Lagos outreach included families in need as well as persons living with disabilities such as the blind and deaf.
