Tag: First Lady

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday donated food items to vulnerable groups in Kogi State under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) through its Social Investment Programme (SIP).

Mrs. Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, flagged off the distribution at the Government House in Lokoja.

The First Lady said the food outreach started last year in Abuja, adding that eight states have so far benefited from the initiative.

She said the initiative has made significant progress in making life better for women and youths across the country.

“The food outreach began in March 2024 in Abuja to uplift vulnerable households by providing essential food items to support their families.

“We have been able to distribute food items to eight states across Nigeria, which are Benue, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Nasarawa states.

“The RHI has made significant progress in efforts to support our people, particularly women and youths, for a better life,” Mrs. Tinubu said.

The First Lady promised that there would be more activities under the RHI in 2025, ranging from economic empowerment, to education, health, social investments and agriculture.

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She said the programme was aimed at further complementing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Mrs. Tinubu hailed Governor Ahmed Ododo for ensuring all-inclusive governance and exceeding the 35 per cent women affirmative action at all levels in the state.

The First Lady expressed appreciation to the governor’s wife for her diligence and commitment at ensuring equitable distribution of the items to beneficiaries.

She advised the beneficiaries not to sell but use the food items judiciously for the benefit of their families.

Governor Ododo hailed the First Lady for using the RHI to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable.

The governor noted that the RHI has continued to serve as a beacon of hope and relief to the less privileged and vulnerable citizens.

He said his administration had been distributing food items and palliatives on quarterly basis to mitigate the impact of economic hardships due to subsidy removal and high exchange rate.

“I urge those responsible for the distribution of these food items to ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

“The RHI must fulfil its noble initiative, which is to bring hope to those in need,” Ododo said.

The governor’s wife, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, praised Mrs. Tinubu for providing basic needs, particularly food items, to the less privileged in the state.

Mrs. Ododo, who doubles as RHI’s Kogi State Coordinator, promised that the items would be distributed equitably to the intended beneficiaries across the state.

She hailed President Tinubu’s administration for prioritising the welfare of the poor, and Governor Ododo for prioritising women empowerment in Kogi State.

The governor’s wife assured the First Lady of the total support of Kogi State women, reaffirming her commitment to supporting the RHI towards building a strong and better society.

The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs, Mr. Yakubu Abdullakeem, thanked the President and his wife for considering the plight of the less privileged, especially the vulnerable groups.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria is on track for full recovery and assured that the nation will experience better days ahead.

She made this statement while hosting an Iftar, the evening meal for breaking the Ramadan fast, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday evening.

Speaking at the gathering, Senator Tinubu emphasised the importance of doing good without seeking acknowledgment or validation, describing it as an act of worship to Almighty Allah.

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She also highlighted the significance of compassion and mercy in human relations, a theme that was central to the evening’s lecture.

The Iftar lecture was delivered by Professor Azeezat Adebayo, Head of the Islamic Studies Department at the University of Ilorin.

She described compassion and mercy as the foundation of human interactions and urged attendees to extend good deeds beyond religious boundaries, emphasising that Ramadan is a time to cultivate these virtues universally.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the Vice President, wives of state governors, female ministers, wives of ministers, and wives of service chiefs.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria is on track for full recovery and assured that the nation will experience better days ahead. 

She made this statement while hosting an Iftar, the evening meal for breaking the Ramadan fast, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday evening.

Speaking at the gathering, Senator Tinubu emphasized the importance of doing good without seeking acknowledgment or validation, describing it as an act of worship to Almighty Allah. 

She also highlighted the significance of compassion and mercy in human relations, a theme that was central to the evening’s lecture.

Read Also: First Lady unveils Renewed Hope Initiative’s plans for 2025

The Iftar lecture was delivered by Professor Azeezat Adebayo, Head of the Islamic Studies Department at the University of Ilorin. 

She described compassion and mercy as the foundation of human interactions and urged attendees to extend good deeds beyond religious boundaries, emphasizing that Ramadan is a time to cultivate these virtues universally.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, the Wife of the Vice President, Wives of State Governors, Female Ministers, Wives of Ministers, and Wives of Service Chiefs.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has outlined her plans for women and youth empowerment in 2025 under her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). 

Speaking on Thursday at the first-quarter high-level meeting of the RHI at her office in the State House, Abuja, First Lady Tinubu emphasized her commitment to improving hygiene, environmental sustainability, and economic support for vulnerable groups.

In a bid to boost young girls’ confidence and hygiene, the First Lady announced plans to distribute 370,000 cartons of sanitary towels across the country. 

She explained that the initiative, which she named “Flow in Confidence,” aims to ensure that girls are not distracted during their menstrual cycle.

“You have been helping with reusable sanitary towels, but for me, I can’t really understand it. Some of the girls, when their flow is not heavy, can use the reusable ones, but they have to be properly sanitized”, she told the governors’ wives. 

She further revealed that her discussions with medical experts influenced the decision to provide disposable sanitary towels, as improper use of reusable ones could affect fertility.

Each state, including the Federal Capital Territory, will receive 10,000 cartons of sanitary towels for free distribution, with a focus on rural communities. 

“When we launch the initiative, I would like you to hand over a carton to each girl that attends,” she urged the governors’ wives.

To promote local production, Mrs. Tinubu disclosed that the sanitary towels would be manufactured in Lagos and Abuja-based factories. 

“We are working with a factory in Lagos, and there is another one in Abuja. We will see how soon they can get us 370,000 cartons,” she added.

The First Lady also announced a collaboration between the Renewed Hope Initiative and the Federal Ministry of Environment to address Nigeria’s growing plastic waste crisis.

“I have traveled around the states and noticed the appalling rate of plastic waste. It is now defacing the beauty of our cities. The President is also encouraging us to do something about it”, she lamented. 

As part of this effort, the First Lady unveiled plans to introduce Environment Climate Change Clubs in secondary schools and Environment Climate Change Societies in tertiary institutions to instill a culture of cleanliness and sustainability among young Nigerians.

“We are working on that and will soon roll out the programs,” she assured.

Mrs. Tinubu also revealed plans to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) engaged in business through the RHI Social Investment Programme. 

Under this scheme, 250 PWDs per state will receive a N200,000 grant to recapitalize their businesses.

“The Renewed Hope Initiative would love to support them in growing their businesses,” she stated.

The First Lady commended the wives of state governors for their contributions to the success of the Renewed Hope Initiative, urging them to continue supporting their husbands in governance.

“I thank you all for the work you have been doing in your states. I am so proud. As wives, we complement our husbands’ efforts, and by helping them, we are also helping ourselves and our people”, she said.

• 200 farmers in Anambra get RHI’s Agricultural Support Programme

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday distributed empowerment tools to 500 women in Niger State to enable them unlock new business opportunities in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items are deep-chest freezers, maxi gas cookers with ovens, power generating sets, and industrial grinding machines.

Mrs. Tinubu said the items were distributed under the SDGs/RHI women empowerment programme for Zones B and C in Niger State.

The First Lady, who is the State Coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), was represented by the wife of Niger State governor, Hajiya Fatima Bago.

She said the distribution was held on “a special day for the hardworking women of Niger State”.

According to her, the programme is for 18,500 women across the country with 500 women benefitting from each state.

Mrs. Tinubu explained that the programme was designed to give women the power to build a future of dignity and self-reliance, adding that women were the backbone of homes and communities.

“When you empower a woman, you empower a family. And when families are strong, society thrives,” she said.

The First Lady urged the women receiving the empowerment tools to use them well in growing their businesses, supporting their families, and inspiring other women around them.

Niger State Commissioner for Small Medium Enterprises (SME), Mrs. Elizabeth Shaba, cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to utilise them to improve their economic conditions.

She expressed appreciation to the First Lady and the wife of Niger State governor for the gesture and their continuous support for women in the state.

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Also yesterday, Mrs. Tinubu distributed farm tools and resources to 200 trained farmers in Anambra State to enhance productivity and support local agriculture.

The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Anambra State governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, distributed the items in Awka, the state capital, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agricultural Support Programme.

The items included grinding machines, wheelbarrows, poultry and piggery resources, seeds, organic fertilisers, piglets, farm boots, spray knapsacks, watering cans, and cages, among others.

NAN reports that 200 farmers from the 21 local government areas were trained in drip irrigation installation, piggery, vegetable farming, poultry farming, and poultry feed production.

During the event, Mrs. Soludo said: “On behalf of the wife of the President and National Chairman of RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, I welcome you to the Agricultural Support Programme.

“After today, your lives will have a greater impact, one that will not only benefit you but also your family, community, Anambra State, and our dear country at large.

“This programme is a medium-scale agro support initiative that targets individuals who have the right passion to venture into lucrative agro-businesses.

“You have been trained in feed processing, vegetable farming, drip irrigation installation, poultry farming, and piggery to develop your skills and become financially sustained.”