By Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Nigeria’s First Lady, (Mrs) Oluremi Tinubu, over the weekend distributed food items to vulnerable groups in Abia State as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Social Investment Food Outreach Programme.
This is as Governor Alex Otti has lauded the initiative and commended Mrs Tinubu for appreciating the pains many individuals and families are passing through this period of economic hardship in the country.
Speaking while handing over the food items for distribution, the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, said the aim of the programme was to further complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in making life better for the people.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the First Lady said the food outreach scheme began on March 8, 2024, and has so far been done in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that the foods distributed were made possible by two donors: Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative and an anonymous donor.
While advising the beneficiaries against selling the food items as they are for their families, she listed various programmes carried out by the Renewed Hope Initiative, including environment, education, socio-economic and others, maintaining that under the socio-economic pillar.
“We will be giving a grant of N200,000 to 250 persons with disabilities to recapitalise their existing small businesses in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Governor Otti commended Mrs Tinubu for providing succour to the less privileged in society through the initiative.
“Being the wife of the President has not stopped our dear First Lady from being mindful of the grassroots population on whose votes everyone holding a political position in the country draws their powers.
“Today’s event is proof that the poor and vulnerable in our country have a reliable friend in the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Otti noted that the challenge of poverty and its manifestations require a holistic programme of economic development, stressing the need for the development of a comprehensive tracking system to monitor progress as Nigeria battles poverty.
Wife of Abia State Governor and coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative in the State, Mrs Priscilla Otti while appreciating the First Lady of Nigeria for her passion in assisting the less privileged and vulnerable people, announced that as a partner in the project, the Abia State Government has provided 3,000 bags of 10 kg rice to add to the ones already donated by Mrs. Tinubu.
She said that the distribution exercise will continue in the coming weeks to ensure that many more families across the state benefit from the intervention and assured that it would be equitably distributed. She said that she is proud of the support they have received and continue to receive from the Renewed Hope Initiative.