By Gbenga Akingbule
The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) at the weekend distributed food items to vulnerable groups in Yobe State, marking a significant milestone as the 20th state to benefit from the program launched in March 2024.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative aims to provide monthly food support to vulnerable groups and people with disabilities across Nigeria.
The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each benefiting state for onward distribution.
Represented at the occasion by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima where she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
Hajja Nana stated that the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024, aims to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. She noted that Yobe State is the 20th state to benefit from this initiative.
According to her, ” since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe State .
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.
The First Lady commended donors of RHI which include Tony Elumelu Foundation, Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each, the RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each, ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
Others are annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders and the Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
