Remi Tinubu’s RHI Reaches 32nd State With Food Relief Programme

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has extended its food relief programme to Ogun State, making it the 32nd state to benefit from the intervention aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.

The programme provides assorted food items to persons with disabilities, widows and other vulnerable individuals to cushion their immediate needs.

The food items were presented in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by the wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, who represented the First Lady at the event.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and ICT, Office of the Vice-President, Kwapchi Bata Hamman,

the intervention is part of the social investment programmes of the RHI designed to provide nutritional support to vulnerable groups across the country.

The programme provides two truckloads of assorted food items monthly for distribution through the wives of state governors, who serve as state coordinators of the initiative.

It has received support from an anonymous donor and the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) since its inception in 2024.

Speaking on behalf of Senator Tinubu, Shettima said the intervention reflected the RHI’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

While announcing Akwa Ibom State as the next beneficiary, the First Lady identified ASR Africa as the supplier of the food items presented to Ogun State.

She also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his hospitality and praised the Ogun State First Lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, for her commitment to implementing RHI programmes and facilitating support for vulnerable residents.

“On this note, to the glory of God and for the benefit of humanity, I hereby hand over these food items to the First Lady of Ogun State for onward distribution to the beneficiaries,” Senator Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Governor Abiodun commended the RHI for its interventions in supporting vulnerable groups, assuring that his administration would continue to work with the Federal Government to improve the welfare of residents.

He said genuine progress was measured by the well-being of the elderly, the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, access to education for children and the ability of widows to provide for their families.

The governor stressed that the needs of vulnerable citizens must remain central to public policy, noting that every beneficiary represented a story of responsibility, dignity and fulfilment.

On food security, Abiodun said sustainable solutions must go beyond food production to include modern agricultural practices, processing, marketing and the development of rural enterprises to make agriculture more productive and rewarding.

He also acknowledged the importance of President Tinubu’s economic policies in stimulating grassroots economic activities, noting that targeted interventions were essential to improving livelihoods and strengthening the local economy.

The governor further commended the RHI for its interventions targeting farmers, breastfeeding mothers and other vulnerable groups.

“Vulnerability does not diminish an individual’s capacity or worth and should never be a basis for exclusion,” he said.

In her remarks, the Ogun State First Lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, described the initiative’s interventions as practical demonstrations of care and support for vulnerable Nigerians.

She said Senator Tinubu’s dedication to the well-being of families served as an inspiration to wives of governors across the country.

According to her, the programmes contribute to improving livelihoods, strengthening household incomes and creating opportunities for individuals and families to achieve greater economic stability.

Mrs Abiodun expressed appreciation to the First Lady for sustaining the interventions nationwide, particularly those focused on reaching vulnerable groups and providing direct assistance to those who need it most.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to restoring dignity to families across Nigeria.

Udoh said the organisation allocates an annual budget of $100 million for interventions, with 50 per cent earmarked for Nigeria.

He described the partnership with the RHI as a strategic collaboration aimed at delivering lasting impact and improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.

ASR Africa also commended those implementing the programme across the states and pledged to remain a committed partner in advancing the welfare of vulnerable communities.

The food items were formally handed over by Shettima to the Ogun State First Lady for onward distribution to the intended beneficiaries.