Follow Us on Google
By Abel Leonard, Lafia
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday, flagged off the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities in Nasarawa State, as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Tinubu said the programme, launched simultaneously across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), was designed to ensure inclusiveness and strengthen the livelihoods of persons with disabilities.
“I am delighted to join you all today at the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities,” she said. “Our nation grows stronger when every individual is empowered to contribute meaningfully.”
Quoting American disability rights advocate Helen Keller, the First Lady added: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” She said the message reflects Nigeria’s commitment to building “a truly inclusive society” where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Under the programme, 250 persons with disabilities in each state and the FCT will receive N200,000 business recapitalisation grants, while every state, the FCT and DEPOWA will each receive N50 million for onward disbursement to beneficiaries.
“In total, 9,500 persons with disabilities across Nigeria will benefit from this programme, amounting to N1.9 billion,” she announced.
Other News
According to the First Lady, the intervention is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on inclusive growth and ensuring that “no Nigerian is left behind.”
She noted that in the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported more than 100,000 petty traders and small business owners—many of them persons with disabilities—with financial grants to grow their enterprises.
“Our commitment to improving lives has been demonstrated through interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health and social welfare,” Senator Tinubu stated. “We remain committed to doing even more to uplift lives and bring hope to those in need.”
She added that the RHI Governing Board has approved that the economic empowerment programme for persons with disabilities will henceforth be held annually on December 3rd, to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The First Lady urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support, saying: “Let it be a seed that grows into something greater; a business that sustains you and your family.”
She appreciated the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, and his wife, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule, for their support, wishing all Nigerians a meaningful commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
