Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and empowering the nation’s most vulnerable populations through the expansion of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme.

She affirmed that the programme, which officially began on March 8, 2024, will continue to deliver critical food assistance to women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities across the country.

The First Lady, who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President and Vice Chairman of RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, stated this at an RHI forum held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, where she oversaw the handover of food supplies to Abia State’s RHI Coordinator, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the Wife of the State Governor.

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Since its launch, the Food Outreach Scheme has reached eleven states and the Federal Capital Territory, including Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Oyo.

The initiative is scheduled to reach Enugu and Kaduna next.

Funded by The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative and an anonymous donor, the programme targets one state per month for food distribution.

The First Lady used the occasion to announce the rollout of several other new initiatives under RHI’s five core pillars—Social Investment, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Agriculture—for the year 2025.

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This initiative aims to help girls stay in school throughout their menstrual cycle,” Mrs Tinubu stated.

The First Lady also said the programmes are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to improve the lives of Nigerians across the country.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, declared his administration’s readiness to partner with organisations like RHI that aim to uplift the vulnerable.

He applauded Mrs Tinubu’s commitment and the tangible impacts of the RHI outreach.

Receiving the items, wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti highlighted the significant impact of the Food Outreach on families in the state.

“This intervention has transformed many lives,” she stated, assuring the First Lady of continuous support and affirming that items would be distributed to individuals from diverse backgrounds to meet the programme’s objectives.

Also, Managing Director of ASR Africa and representative of BUA, Dr. Ubon Udoh, lauded the sustainable impact of RHI’s work and pledged continued support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Oyenike Oyeniyi