The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday in Akure disbursed N200,000 each to 250 elderly persons from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
Represented by Mrs. Seun Aiyedatiwa, wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Tinubu said the disbursement marked the third edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), themed “Finding Joy in Old Age.” She described the programme as a social investment initiative aimed at ensuring that elderly citizens live with dignity and joy in a nation that values its senior citizens.
“Since the inception of the administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December in recognition of their invaluable contributions to nation-building,” she said.
The scheme supports 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 years and above in each of Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA). A total of 9,500 beneficiaries nationwide are set to receive N200,000 each, amounting to N1.9 billion approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative. Each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA, will receive N50 million.
Mrs. Tinubu highlighted the moral duty of government and society to prioritise elderly citizens, saying, “They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may have smoother roads to travel. It is our joy to ensure they live their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity.”
She encouraged senior citizens to remain healthy, active, and engaged in meaningful activities, including charitable work.
Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Seun Osamaye, praised the initiative, noting that many elderly women are vulnerable. She advised the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously to meet their basic needs.
The disbursement underscores the administration’s commitment to supporting elderly citizens and enhancing their quality of life through targeted social investment programmes.