Senator Oluremi Tinubu Launches Food Outreach Initiative in Lagos State

In a significant effort to uplift vulnerable communities, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has launched a food outreach initiative in Lagos State through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). This program aims to provide essential food supplies to families and individuals with disabilities, addressing immediate needs and alleviating the hardships faced by these groups.

During the event, which was represented by Hajia Nana Shettima, the wife of the Vice President, Senator Tinubu announced plans for a nationwide assistance program targeting the elderly. She emphasized that the food outreach scheme, initiated in March 2024, is part of a broader effort under RHI to support Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

“This Food Outreach Scheme was designed to deliver food items to persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, supporting their families during challenging times,” Senator Tinubu explained.

The outreach is supported by two major donors: the Abdul-Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and an anonymous benefactor. Each month, these donors supply two truckloads of food for distribution across two states, with Lagos receiving assistance from the anonymous contributor. To date, 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory have benefitted from this initiative, with more to be included soon.

In addition to the food distribution, the First Lady highlighted other RHI programs aimed at empowering women and youth. These initiatives include the SDG/RHI Women Empowerment Programme for the South-West, which provides women in small businesses with essential tools like freezers and cookers, and the RHI/Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme, which allocates N50,000 each to 500 women in every state and the FCT to enhance their enterprises with a funding pool of N1 billion.

Senator Tinubu shared plans to unveil additional projects focusing on the elderly and persons with disabilities nationwide. Among the upcoming initiatives is the flagship “Flow with Confidence” scheme, which aims to provide a year’s supply of sanitary pads to 370,000 schoolgirls across Nigeria, helping to ensure that they can attend school during their menstrual periods.

“Our mission at RHI aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, focusing on empowering all Nigerians to thrive regardless of their circumstances,” stated the First Lady.

Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State, received the food items on behalf of the beneficiaries and expressed gratitude for the timely support, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on families and individuals with disabilities.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised the initiative, noting that its objectives resonate with the THEMES+ agenda of his administration, which prioritizes social inclusion, grassroots empowerment, and community health.

The outreach in Lagos reached a diverse group, including struggling families and individuals living with disabilities, such as the blind and the deaf, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s commitment to supporting its most vulnerable residents.