AWKA/Nigeria: First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday empowered 250 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State with N200,000 each to support and expand their businesses, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme.
The initiative, implemented simultaneously across the 36 states and the FCT, is expected to benefit 9,500 people nationwide with a cumulative N1.9 billion in grants aimed at strengthening economic independence among vulnerable groups.
Delivering the First Lady’s message in Awka, the Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places premium on inclusive development and ensuring that no Nigerian is excluded from economic opportunities. Soludo, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluchi Ibezim, added that the programme specifically prioritises persons whose needs are often overlooked.
“This empowerment is not charity. It is an investment in your abilities, your dreams, and your rightful place in society,” she said. “The Renewed Hope Initiative is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind by strengthening economic independence for vulnerable groups.”
She disclosed that over the past two years, the RHI has supported more than 100,000 women petty traders, small business owners, and PWDs with financial grants, while also extending assistance to victims of floods, communal conflicts, disasters, the elderly, widows, and orphans of fallen heroes. The RHI Monthly Food Outreach Scheme, she said, has also delivered food items to 22 states and the FCT.
Senator Tinubu urged beneficiaries to invest the funds in expanding their businesses, starting new ventures, and improving their income-generating capacity.
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, advised the beneficiaries to use the grants judiciously to ensure sustainable livelihoods.
Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra chapter, Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, commended the First Lady for what he described as a compassionate and transformative initiative. He also praised Dr. Soludo for ensuring effective implementation in the state.
Okeke encouraged beneficiaries to put the funds to productive use to demonstrate that empowerment programmes can deliver measurable impact.
