By Joyce Ekeh
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has unveiled a ₦110 million empowerment package for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities in each participating senatorial district, urging beneficiaries to be selected without political, religious or ethnic discrimination.
The package, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), comprises two programmes worth ₦55 million each, targeting 250 beneficiaries per programme in each senatorial district.
Under the disability empowerment scheme, 250 beneficiaries are expected to receive ₦200,000 each. The Elderly Support Scheme will provide the same amount to 250 senior citizens.
Mrs Tinubu announced the initiative on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting attended by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; serving senators, senatorial candidates and members of the RHI governing board.
She urged the APC candidates to help coordinate the distribution, stressing that the intervention must benefit vulnerable Nigerians regardless of party affiliation.
“We don’t say give it only to party members, but give it to your voters,” she said.
The First Lady said the senatorial candidates were better positioned to identify vulnerable people in their constituencies and ensure the assistance reached those who needed it.
“The vulnerable in society are the people we are supposed to care for,” she added.
She explained that the initiative was designed to expand existing support for persons with disabilities and continue the Elderly Support Scheme, now in its fourth edition.
Senate President Akpabio commended the First Lady for involving serving and incoming senators, urging the candidates to treat the assignment as a public trust and ensure the funds reached intended beneficiaries.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also praised the RHI’s interventions, saying its monthly food outreach programme had reached 31 states.
APC National Chairman Yilwatda urged the candidates to work with party structures and other stakeholders while ensuring that beneficiary selection was free from discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The RHI’s financial support programme for persons with disabilities is scheduled to feature in activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, while the elderly support intervention is scheduled for December 17.
The initiative is aimed at extending financial assistance to vulnerable citizens through a senatorial district-based distribution structure.
