ASABA/Nigeria: No fewer than 250 elderly persons in Delta State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), receiving ₦200,000 each, a 50kg bag of rice and free medical care, in a major social intervention coordinated by the Delta State Government through the Office of the Wife of the Governor.
The beneficiaries were supported during the third edition of the scheme, held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Asaba. The programme, themed “Finding Joy in Old Age,” brought together senior citizens from across the state in a celebration of care, dignity and inclusion.
The Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, was represented at the event by the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Her Excellency Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, while Mrs. Josephine Emu delivered remarks on behalf of the Delta First Lady.
In a speech delivered at the event, Senator Tinubu described the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme as a critical social investment designed to ensure that elderly Nigerians live with dignity, joy and a sense of belonging. She said the initiative reflects the commitment of the current administration to building a society that genuinely cares for its senior citizens.
“This social investment programme embodies our ongoing effort to ensure that our elderly citizens live with dignity and joy, in a nation that truly values their sacrifices,” she said.
The First Lady explained that since the inception of the administration in 2023, it has become a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December in recognition of their immense contributions to nation-building. She noted that the scheme supports 250 vulnerable elderly persons aged 65 years and above in each of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500.
According to her, each beneficiary receives ₦200,000, with a total sum of ₦1.9 billion approved for disbursement by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative. She added that ₦50 million was allocated to each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA.
Senator Tinubu stressed that prioritising the welfare of the elderly, particularly during the festive season, is both a moral responsibility and a source of collective fulfilment. “They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may enjoy smoother roads. It is our duty to ensure they spend their twilight years in comfort, good health and dignity,” she said.
She further encouraged senior citizens to remain active, healthy and engaged in community and charitable activities, noting that ageing gracefully goes beyond longevity to include love, care and respect.
Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Josephine Emu, the Wife of the Governor of Delta State expressed profound appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria for the compassionate intervention. She reaffirmed the commitment of the Oborevwori administration to the welfare of senior citizens, disclosing that the Delta State Government has approved ₦50 billion to clear outstanding pension liabilities at both the state and local government levels.
Mrs. Emu also announced additional support for the beneficiaries through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation, including free medical care, free medications and a 50kg bag of rice for each elderly person.
Several beneficiaries who spoke to journalists described the intervention as timely and life-changing, thanking the First Lady of Nigeria, the Delta State Government and the Office of the Wife of the Governor for remembering the elderly. They offered prayers for sustained peace, good governance and continued development in Delta State and across the country
