REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
Two Hundred and Fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens from sixty five years and above in Ananbra state have received 200, 000 naira each from the federal government of Nigeria.
They received the funds under the third edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) with the Theme: “Finding Joy in Old Age”.
The wife of the Anambra state Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo represented the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the event which held at the Government House Awka.
Also veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) as well as elders from the FCT also benefited thereby bringing the number to Nine thousand five hundred (9500) selected beneficiaries across the 36 states and federal capital territory.
Senator Tinubu disclosed that a total sum of One Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira (N1,900,000,000) was to be disbursed as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
She noted that each state of the federation will receive the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000), including FCT and DEPOWA as the social investment programme embodies the ongoing effort by the Federal Government to ensure that elderly citizens live with dignity and joy, in a nation that genuinely cares for its own.
The wife of the President said that since the inception of the President Bola Tinubu administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December, in recognition of their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said through the scheme, the Government has continued to express gratitude and care for the men and women who had laboured to build the Nigeria that everyone is proud to be part of today
The First Lady noted that as the festive season approaches, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of prioritizing the elderly citizens.
She advised the senior citizens to do all that is possible to find joy in old age, and also find purpose in community, compassion, and care even as she encouraged them to continue playing their part by staying healthy and active.
Some of the beneficiaries including Chief Ilechukwu Ugboaja, Professor Chigbo Okolo and Mrs Chimezie Okigbp were full of praises for the Wife of the President for the initiative and also thanked the Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo for making sure that whatever is meant for them got to them in full.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the Wife of the Anambra state Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo also used the occasion to distribute various items including bundles of wrappers, bags of rice among others to augment the fund provided by the Renewed Hope Initiative.
