FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) has again empowered 250 elderly vulnerable people with the cash sum of two hundred thousand in Nasarawa State.
Speaking during the disbursement ceremony in Lafia, the state capital, the Nigerian First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, said the social investment programme is aimed at ensuring that the elderly citizens live with dignity and joy in a nation that genuinely cares for its own.
The First Lady, represented by the wife of the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Mrs Shela-Tosan Akabe, explained that since the inception of this administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate the senior citizens every December in recognition of their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
She recalled that she had supported over 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including PWDs, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses in the last two years.
“Through this scheme, we have continued to express our gratitude and care for the men and women who have laboured to build the Nigeria we are all proud to be part of today.”
“This scheme is to support 250,000 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPIWA).
“These 9,500 selected beneficiaries will receive 200,000 Naira each. The total sum to be disbursed is 1,900,000,000 as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.”
“Each state of the Federation will receive the sum of 50,000,000 Naira, including FCT and depot”.
“As we approach the festive season, it is crucial to emphasis the importance of prioritising our elderly citizens in our initiatives. They have walked difficult paths so that the younger generations may have smoother roads to travel.”
“It is therefore a moral duty and indeed a joy to ensure that they live their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity,” Sen. Oluremi noted.
She urged the senior citizens to make everything possible to find joy in old age, continue playing their part by staying healthy and active, and nurture both their body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagements.
Also speaking, the wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Mrs Silifat Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, Hajiya Sa’datu Yahaya, appreciated the Nigerian First Lady for her love and care for everybody, especially the vulnerable groups in the country.
She said that the elderly were carefully selected from the 13 local government areas of the state.
She therefore urged them to use the money to add value to their lives and care for their families, and not to add more wives and do things that bring harm to them.
Signed
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
