The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday, announced the disbursement of ₦50 million in grants to 250 persons with disabilities to support and recapitalise their small businesses.
Tinubu made the announcement on Saturday at an event organised by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President and Vice Chairman of RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, also launched the ‘Flow with Confidence’ programme, aimed at distributing 10,000 packs of sanitary pads to young girls, particularly those in rural communities, to help them stay in school during their menstrual cycle.
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, RHI is set to disburse grants of ₦200,000 each to 250 persons with disabilities across the 36 states and the FCT,” she said.
“In the area of education, 10,000 sanitary packs—sufficient for one year—will be distributed to young girls in rural communities to help reduce absenteeism during their periods.”
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and ICT (Office of the Vice President), Kwapchi Bata Hamman, Tinubu reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and empowering the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
She noted that the RHI Food Outreach Scheme, which officially commenced on March 8, 2024, would continue to deliver critical food support to women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities.
“As I hand over these essential food commodities to Abia State and the RHI coordinator, I encourage the beneficiaries to use these items for their families’ well-being,” she said.
Senator Tinubu commended the wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for her support in facilitating the successful implementation of RHI programmes in the state.
In his remarks, Governor Alex Otti expressed readiness to collaborate with RHI and similar organisations to uplift vulnerable groups. He lauded the First Lady for her commitment and the tangible impact of the outreach.
Mrs Otti, while receiving the items, described the initiative as life-changing, adding that efforts would be made to ensure that the intervention reaches people from diverse backgrounds.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of ASR Africa and representative of BUA, Mr Ubon Udoh, applauded the sustainable impact of RHI’s initiatives and pledged continued support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.
The RHI Food Outreach Scheme has so far reached 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Oyo. The programme, supported by ASR Africa and an anonymous donor, is scheduled to reach Enugu and Kaduna next.
The First Lady also announced that several new programmes would be rolled out under the five core pillars of RHI in 2025—Social Investment, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Agriculture.
