Empowerment
By Sunday John
Lafia, Dec. 16, 2023 (NAN) Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has empowered no fewer than 250 elderly persons in Nasarawa State with N50 million under her Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).
Speaking at the disbursement exercise on Tuesday in Lafia, Tinubu said each beneficiary received N200,000 to enhance their wellbeing and enable them to enjoy life in old age.
The first lady, represented by Mrs Shela Tosan-Akabe, wife of the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, said the intervention underscored her commitment to the welfare of senior citizens.
She explained that the scheme was designed to support elderly persons aged 65 years and above across the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as veterans under the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
According to her, the initiative is being implemented simultaneously nationwide, with each state, the FCT and DEPOWA receiving N50 million, bringing the total to N1.9 billion.
Tinubu noted that the programme aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, which seeks inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no segment of society was left behind.
She recalled that, in the last two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative had supported over 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, with direct financial grants to boost their enterprises.
The first lady stressed the need to prioritise the welfare of elderly citizens, particularly during the festive season, to enable them to live with dignity and joy.
“They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may have smoother roads to travel. It is our responsibility to make life worthwhile for them at this stage,” she said.
She advised the beneficiaries to seek joy and purpose in old age through community, compassion and mutual care, adding that old age should be defined by love, support and respect, rather than mere longevity.
In her remarks, Haj. Silifat Sule, Wife of Nasarawa governor, thanked the first lady for her compassion and commitment to the welfare of vulnerable groups.
Sule, who was represented by Sa’adatu Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, said the beneficiaries were carefully selected from the 13 local government areas of the state.
She urged them to utilise the funds judiciously to improve their wellbeing and support their families. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
SDJ/IU
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Edited by Isaac Ukpoju