By Joyce Eyaba, JKNewsMedia Reporter
FINANCIAL SUPPORT via the disbursement of grants to persons with disabilities under the Renewed Hope Initiative provides N200,000 each to 9,500 beneficiaries across the country, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s media office has confirmed.
A press release signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, stated that the rollout began with 250 physically challenged military and police veterans at Mambilla Barracks, Abuja.
The event marked this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDODs) and formed part of a simultaneous launch across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (FCT/DPOWA).
Senator Tinubu described the nationwide launch as significant because of its alignment with the global observance dedicated to persons with disabilities, emphasising that national strength grows when individuals are empowered to contribute meaningfully and underlined the importance of inclusion in national development efforts.
She also referenced a quote by Helen Keller, describing the words “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” as a reminder that inclusive societies emerge through collective effort.
She said opportunities that support participation help individuals contribute their abilities to the wider progress of the nation.
The Abuja flag-off, focused on military and police veterans living with disabilities, allowed the First Lady to underline what she described as the importance of pursuing a disability-inclusive society.
She said her husband, President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was aimed at promoting inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind, particularly those whose needs might traditionally be overlooked.
Her also noted several interventions carried out under the Initiative, noting that more than 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, had received direct financial grants over the past two years.
These grants, the statement noted, supported small enterprises and aimed to strengthen economic activity among vulnerable groups.
The press release also highlighted other areas of focus, stating that the Initiative had carried out interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health and social welfare, with the First Lady describing the objective of these efforts as improving the well-being of families across Nigeria.
The record, as presented, reflected the Initiative’s attempts to expand support across sectors affecting household stability.
She disclosed that the business recapitalisation scheme formed another part of the Initiative’s work and had strengthened more than 100,000 businesses, including those owned by persons with disabilities, since its creation in 2023.
Senator Tinubu stated that further action would follow and confirmed that the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative had resolved to institutionalise the Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities (EEPPDs) as an annual event held every 3 December.
She linked this decision to the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPs).
Addressing the beneficiaries, the First Lady encouraged them to make effective use of the N200,000 support.
The release quoted her urging recipients to treat the funds as a seed capable of growing into something that sustains them and their families.
This call, as presented, underscored the expectation that financial empowerment could translate into personal and household stability when responsibly managed.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, was represented at the event, as carried in the document, described the intervention as “a clear demonstration of compassion in action.”
He linked the latest support to past and ongoing interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s social investment scheme, including medical and food outreach delivered to states.
He also stressed the nationwide structure of the initiative, explaining that the disbursement took place simultaneously across the 36 states, the FCT and DEPOWA, noting that this approach ensured broad national reach and aligned the programme with the day’s global observances.
