In line with the Renewed Hope Elderly Support Initiative (RHESI) of the first lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, no fewer than 250 elderly persons from the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have benefitted from the free medical programmes and other empowerment schemes.
Akwa Ibom first lady, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, performed the ceremony on behalf of the president’s wife during a new year party at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, where the senior citizens were treated to free medical outreach, dancing competition, riddles, pageantry, among others.
Mrs Eno explained that the event was held at the instance of the wife of the president who had graciously approved the names of all in attendance, and made available a cash gift of N100,000 for each of the 250 beneficiaries.
She said the party which would have been held in December last year was shifted to the new year due to many engagements, assuring that it was the beginning of many others in the series of such intervention programmes.
The governor’s wife who expressed happiness at seeing the senior citizens exude with joy, said she was glad that the event coincided with the day the apex court in the country certified the electoral victory of her husband.
“This event did not happen today by chance. It happened on the day the Supreme Court certified my husband as the authentic winner of the last gubernatorial election. It means that I will always be here to celebrate with you people as your Governor’s wife,” she said.
Setting the tone for the event earlier, the personal assistant (PA) to the governor’s wife on Special Duties, Ann Abraham, said that the new year celebration with the elderly was prompted by the first lady’s resolve to enhance and cater for the well-being of the aged in the state.
Presenting a health talk at the event, the personal physician to the governor, Dr Ekem John and Dr Uduak Nkanta, harped on the need for regular medical check-up to help identify early warning signs of illnesses
