The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has donated food items under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Social Investment Programme worth millions of naira to vulnerable groups in Delta.
Mrs Tinubu made the donation during a symbolic presentation of food items to the vulnerable groups in Asaba on Tuesday.
The first lady, represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice-President, said the presentation was to formally hand over the essential food commodities to Delta State through the wife of the state governor and RHI’s State Coordinator for onward distribution to the vulnerable groups.
“The food outreach scheme began on March 8, 2024 at the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to provide vulnerable households with food items to support their families.
“So far, we have successfully donated food items to nine states and the Federal Capital Territory, namely Benue, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, and Nasarawa states.
“Abia state has also received its food items and is now ready for distribution. This particular food supply has been made possible by Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative,” she said.
Tinubu said that the RHI has been able to achieve its network Initiative food outreach scheme through two donors, with one of them preferring to be anonymous.
She added that the two companies have chosen to be committed and supply food items on a monthly basis to Renewed Hope Initiative for onward distribution to Nigerians.
According to her, the next state that will benefit from the food outreach would be Oyo.
She said since the inception of the RHI initiative in 2023, significant progress had been made in its effort to support Nigerians particularly women and youths, to build a better life for their families.
“I want to assure you that there will be more activities this year under the five scopes of the needs for the initiative.
“Under our social investment programme,
We are also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to establish the Environment and Climate Change Club for Senior Secondary School students.
”And to also establish Environment and Climate Change Society for students in tertiary institutions to help us clean our environment.
“Furthermore, under a new top initiative, Economic Empowerment Programme, we are giving a grant of N200,000 to 250 persons with disability to recapitalize their existing small businesses in the 36 states and the FCT, among others,” she said.
She added that these programmes were initiated to further complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
On the distribution of the food items to families, she urged and encouraged them to make judicious use of them by not selling the items meant to support their families.
Earlier, the Wife of the Delta Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, commended the first lady through the RHI Social Investment Programme for the donation of the items to vulnerable groups in the state.
“The initiative is timely and a big deal to us. Since the inception of this administration, we have benefited immensely from your kind gesture in different ways.
“The elderly have not lacked your constant attention, the farmers, petty traders, school children, even the youths, and now your focus is on the vulnerable groups.
“This is a clear indication that every person in the society is important to you. This heart of love will continue to resonate in our hearts for a very long time.
“As a people, we can testify that the Renew Hope Initiative is daily giving hope to the common man.
“This gesture is worthy of commendation. On my part I will not relent in emulating this move in reaching out to the people at the grassroots,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they share with their families.
Also, Dr Ubon Udoh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of
Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative(ASR Africa) said the collaboration with RHI was designed to cater to the vulnerable members of the community for poverty reduction.
Udoh said that the gesture was made possible by the Chairman of ASR Africa and the BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabi.
He added that since the partnership, this was the third food contribution made to the RHI food outreach so far, with Kwara and Abia States being the previous beneficiaries.
“With the RHI partnership, ASR Africa is committed to alleviating food insecurity and its related consequences while accelerating a positive impact on the health and well-being of the beneficiaries,” Udoh said.
