Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has presented food items worth millions of naira to vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, in Bauchi State under the Social Investment Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The food items were formally handed over to the First Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, at the Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, on Saturday, for onward distribution to beneficiaries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oluremi Tinubu, who is the national chairman of the RHI, said the food outreach scheme was launched in March 2024 to provide food items to persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, support their families and improve their wellbeing.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President and national vice-chairman of the RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady said the initiative was designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting Nigerians to strive towards achieving their aspirations irrespective of their circumstances or social status.
She said the RHI had also launched the National Community Food Bank Programme as part of efforts to address food insecurity and malnutrition, improve access to nutritious food, combat child malnutrition and support the healthy growth and development of children.
“Since its initial launch in the North-East, in Borno State, we have so far covered four geopolitical zones and will soon launch the programme in the remaining two zones, Insha Allah,” she said.
Oluremi Tinubu disclosed that the intervention had been made possible through the generous support of two donors who had committed to supplying two truckloads of food items to the RHI every month.
She identified one of the donors as the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, while the other donor preferred to remain anonymous.
According to her, the consignment presented in Bauchi was donated by the anonymous donor.
She expressed appreciation to both donors for their generosity and sustained commitment to supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
The First Lady further disclosed that food items had so far been distributed to 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with Bauchi becoming the 29th beneficiary.
She announced that Katsina and Akwa Ibom states would be the next beneficiaries of the programme.
Oluremi Tinubu commended the First Lady of Bauchi State, Ambassador Aisha Bala Mohammed, for her dedication to the successful implementation of RHI programmes and her commitment to supporting vulnerable groups in the state.
She subsequently handed over the food items to Aisha Bala Mohammed for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.
In her remarks, the First Lady of Bauchi State and Northeast Zonal of the RHI, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, commended Oluremi Tinubu for the intervention, describing the provision of food items and financial support to vulnerable groups as timely and meaningful.
She said the intervention had come at a time when many households were facing economic difficulties and struggling to meet their basic needs, adding that the support would provide immediate relief and renew hope among beneficiaries.
Aisha disclosed that, in addition to the food items, N50,000 would be provided to each of the 20 local government areas of the state.
She said N100,000 would be provided to schoolchildren, N150,000 to Christian children, N80,000 to beneficiaries from orphanage homes, N120,000 to persons with special needs, N150,000 to Almajirai and N50,000 to children in remand homes.
Aisha, who doubles as State Coordinator of the RHI, said the broad coverage of the intervention demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that vulnerable members of society were not left behind.
“It is an intervention that reaches children, persons with special needs, orphans, Almajirai and other vulnerable groups, giving them not only immediate assistance but also a renewed sense of hope and belonging,” she said.
The First Lady said the women of Bauchi State were particularly grateful for the support, noting that the intervention would provide relief to households, ease some of the pressures facing families and reassure women that their needs and wellbeing remained important.
She assured that Bauchi State would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of women, families, children, persons with special needs and other vulnerable members of society.
She urged beneficiaries to appreciate the gesture and make judicious use of the food items and financial assistance.
Also speaking, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State commended the wife of the president for her humanitarian intervention in support of women, children, families and other vulnerable groups in the state.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau, said the intervention had provided meaningful relief to many families and continued to offer hope to less privileged Nigerians across the country.
He prayed the assistance would bring comfort to households, support beneficiaries in meeting their immediate needs and strengthen their hope for better days ahead.
Some beneficiaries, including Adama Gambo, Hadiza Aliyu and Ibrahim Muhammad, also commended Oluremi Tinubu for the gesture.
They said the people of Bauchi State appreciated her efforts towards improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly women, youths, the elderly and other vulnerable members of society.