Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to supporting vulnerable Nigerians as the Food Outreach Scheme of the Renewed Hope Initiative extended its reach to Ogun State with the distribution of food items to disadvantaged residents.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Wednesday at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta during the distribution exercise.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady said the initiative was designed to complement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by providing direct assistance to families and individuals facing economic hardship.
She said the programme reflected the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to improving family welfare and ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians received support regardless of their social status.
“This Food Outreach Scheme is to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration by ensuring that every Nigerian is catered for, irrespective of their social status,” she said.
The First Lady explained that the scheme was sustained through contributions from two donors who provide two truckloads of food items to the Renewed Hope Initiative every month.
She identified one of the donors as the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, while the other had chosen to remain anonymous.
According to her, the programme had covered the Federal Capital Territory and 31 other states, with Ogun becoming the latest beneficiary.
Tinubu expressed appreciation to the donors for their generosity and continued support for vulnerable Nigerians. She also commended Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and his wife, Bamidele Abiodun, for their efforts to improve residents’ welfare.
In his remarks, Governor Abiodun commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for extending the programme to vulnerable groups in Ogun State, describing care for disadvantaged citizens as an important measure of a society’s commitment to the well-being of its people.
He said the strength of a society should not be measured solely by the wealth it generates but also by how it supports people whose needs are often overlooked.
The governor stressed that addressing poverty required a comprehensive approach beyond financial assistance, encompassing healthcare, nutrition, education, skills development, employment and opportunities for self-reliance.
He identified elderly people, persons living with disabilities, widows, disadvantaged children and vulnerable households as groups requiring sustained support through government policies and social intervention programmes.
Abiodun also commended Tinubu for complementing the Federal Government’s economic reforms with initiatives intended to cushion the immediate effects of economic challenges on vulnerable Nigerians.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to programmes promoting social inclusion, food security, agriculture, youth empowerment and access to essential services.
The governor urged government officials, community leaders and religious organisations to ensure that social intervention programmes reached their intended beneficiaries transparently and with dignity.
Earlier, the wife of the Ogun State Governor, Bamidele Abiodun, described the Food Outreach Scheme as one of the First Lady’s initiatives aimed at improving family welfare and providing direct assistance to vulnerable Nigerians.
She noted that the programme had reached different parts of the country, with Kwara State serving as its first point of call.
According to her, the scheme’s extension to Ogun demonstrated the commitment of President Tinubu and the First Lady to addressing the challenges facing vulnerable households.
She added that the initiative aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on eradicating poverty and hunger and promoting good health and well-being.
The Ogun First Lady also commended the President for his administration’s economic reform programmes, noting that social interventions remained important in helping families cope with economic challenges while working towards a stronger and more prosperous society.
The highlight of the event was the formal handover of the food items to Bamidele Abiodun for onward distribution to identified beneficiaries across Ogun State.
Launched in Kwara State in March 2024 under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Social Investment Programme, the Food Outreach Scheme provides nutritional assistance to persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The programme is designed to strengthen family welfare, improve access to food and expand social protection for disadvantaged Nigerians across the country.
