Over the years, Nigeria’s First Ladies have championed various social intervention programmes aimed at improving the welfare of women, children and young people, complementing government efforts in community development and social inclusion.
Notable among such initiatives were the Better Life Programme for Rural Women launched by Maryam Babangida and the Future Assured Programme spearheaded by Aisha Buhari, both of which left lasting impressions on vulnerable populations across the country.
Building on that tradition, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu introduced the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in 2023 to support families and vulnerable groups in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Operating under the theme, “Towards a Better Life for Families,” the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focuses on empowering women, youths and disadvantaged groups through programmes that promote economic growth, social inclusion, education and improved livelihoods.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to stimulate economic development, strengthen security and improve citizens’ welfare through policy reforms and targeted interventions, while the RHI serves as a complementary platform addressing the needs of women, farmers, traders, persons with disabilities, the elderly and underserved communities.
According to Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, former Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat and coordinator of the initiative in the territory, the programme has significantly transformed the lives of thousands of residents.
Now serving as Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, she explained that before the initiative’s launch, many women in the FCT faced poverty, limited economic opportunities and low representation in leadership and governance.
She noted that since October 2023, the programme has opened new opportunities for women and vulnerable groups, helping them improve their livelihoods and participate more actively in socio-economic activities.
Benjamins-Laniyi said the initiative has delivered support in critical areas including education, healthcare, food assistance, entrepreneurship and community development.
According to her, nearly 28,000 people across the six area councils of the FCT have benefited from various interventions implemented under the programme within less than three years.
She described the initiative as a people-focused movement that places women, children and families at the centre of development efforts.
Among its key achievements, she said, was the Flow with Confidence: Pad-A-Girl Impact Campaign, through which 10,500 adolescent girls received support aimed at improving menstrual health, preserving dignity and encouraging school attendance.
In addition, 1,500 students were trained in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while 620 young people received training on self-defence and the prevention of gender-based violence.
To strengthen small businesses, the initiative provided grants of N50,000 each to 3,220 petty traders, amounting to about N161 million in support for women-owned micro-enterprises and informal businesses.
Several beneficiaries said the grants enabled them to expand their businesses, increase working capital and improve household income.
The programme also extended support to senior citizens through its Elderly Support Scheme, under which 550 persons aged 65 years and above received financial assistance, food supplies and medical services.
FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, praised the intervention, noting that elderly citizens deserve dignity, care and security after years of contributing to society.
Persons with disabilities also benefited significantly from the initiative. According to Benjamins-Laniyi, more than 4,000 individuals received relief materials and empowerment support under various programmes, while hundreds were provided financial assistance to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The initiative further supported disability inclusion through stakeholder training on disability rights, sexual and reproductive health, child protection and gender-based violence reporting.
Mr. Rex Irame, Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, said the interventions contributed to creating a more inclusive environment for persons with disabilities in the territory.
In the agricultural sector, the Every-Home-A-Garden Initiative provided support to 416 women to promote household food production, nutrition and income generation through backyard farming.
The programme also empowered women farmers through agricultural grants, inputs and tools, while encouraging young people to view agriculture as a viable career path.
Under youth-focused interventions, beneficiaries of the First Lady’s Young Farmers Club and Women Agricultural Empowerment Programme received financial support aimed at boosting food production and sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative also addressed digital inclusion by training 100 women, including women living with disabilities, in information and communication technology skills to improve their participation in the digital economy.
Benjamins-Laniyi said the interventions have helped restore confidence in government programmes at the grassroots level while empowering women to serve as catalysts for positive change within their families and communities.
She added that each beneficiary represents a success story of renewed opportunity, improved welfare and strengthened community resilience.
Despite the achievements recorded so far, policy analysts have cautioned that rising inflation and the increasing cost of living could reduce the long-term impact of grants and empowerment packages if adequate sustainability measures are not put in place.
They argue that many beneficiaries may be compelled to channel support funds toward immediate household needs rather than business expansion, making long-term institutional support essential.
Analysts therefore recommend integrating the initiative’s programmes into formal government social welfare structures to ensure continuity, scalability and lasting impact beyond individual administrations.