In a powerful show of support for inclusion and economic empowerment, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced a ₦50 million grant aimed at uplifting 250 persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the country.
The intervention, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), seeks to bolster existing small businesses run by PLWDs in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The First Lady made the announcement on Friday during the Abia State Food Outreach Programme of the RHI’s Social Investment initiative, held in Umuahia. Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Mrs. Tinubu described the economic support package as a critical step towards fostering dignity, self-reliance, and sustainable livelihoods for marginalized citizens.
“Our goal is to ensure that vulnerable Nigerians are not just given aid, but real opportunities to build independent, meaningful lives. This ₦50 million grant for 250 business-minded PLWDs is one way we’re delivering on that promise,” she stated.
The Abia event marked the 12th stop in the First Lady’s nationwide Food Outreach Programme, which has so far delivered vital food supplies to states including Benue, Oyo, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, and Nasarawa, with Enugu and Kaduna scheduled as the next beneficiaries.
Mrs. Tinubu credited the success of the initiative to sustained support from private donors—specifically, ASR Africa (the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative) and an anonymous contributor—who have ensured a consistent monthly supply of food items to RHI.
Receiving the supplies on behalf of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, wife of the state governor and coordinator of the RHI in Abia, praised the initiative’s impact across multiple sectors including education, health, and nutrition. She announced that the Abia State Government would add 3,000 bags of 10kg rice to the food relief efforts, which already included semolina and spaghetti.
The First Lady also revealed upcoming initiatives under the RHI, including partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Environment to establish Environmental Clubs for Secondary Schools and Environmental Societies in tertiary institutions. These platforms aim to foster climate awareness and environmental stewardship among Nigerian youth.
In the education space, Mrs. Tinubu unveiled the “Glow with Confidence” campaign—a project to distribute 10,000 packs of sanitary pads per state annually, targeting young girls in rural communities. “No girl should have to miss school because of her menstrual cycle,” she said, adding that the initiative was designed to keep girls in school, build their confidence, and support long-term educational retention.
Governor Alex Otti made a surprise appearance to commend the First Lady’s efforts, praising the Renewed Hope Initiative as a timely intervention during what he described as “an era of painful but necessary reforms.”
“These are difficult times, but such acts of compassion send a strong message—that the privileged have not forgotten those who struggle,” Otti said. He also lauded his wife, Priscilla, for her role in championing the RHI’s outreach in Abia, despite the scrutiny that comes with public service.
Mrs. Otti echoed these sentiments, urging stakeholders to work beyond political and ethnic divides to address hunger and poverty. “Hunger has no tribe or party,” she said. “Together, let us act with love, lead with empathy, and build a future where every household in Abia—and Nigeria—is free from want.”
