No fewer than 250 elderly citizens in Ebonyi State have received financial and food support under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Financial Support Scheme, a programme aimed at improving the welfare and dignity of senior citizens across Nigeria.
The third edition of the scheme was held at the Banquet Hall of the Old Government House in Abakaliki and attracted beneficiaries drawn from different parts of the state. The initiative is spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and was represented at the event by the wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Mary Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru.
The programme, themed “Finding Joy in Old Age,” forms part of the Renewed Hope Initiative Special Investment Programme designed to support elderly Nigerians and recognise their contributions to national development. It was disclosed that 9,500 senior citizens were selected as beneficiaries nationwide, drawn from the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, as well as wives of Defence and Police officers.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Nwifuru said each beneficiary received a cash grant of two hundred thousand naira alongside a fifty kilogramme bag of rice. She added that the total nationwide disbursement under the scheme amounted to one point nine billion naira, with each state, including the FCT and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, allocated fifty million naira to support 250 elderly persons aged 65 years and above.
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In a message delivered to the beneficiaries, the First Lady said the Renewed Hope Initiative was established to honour senior citizens for their sacrifices and lifelong contributions to nation building. She noted that since 2023, the initiative has sustained the tradition of supporting elderly Nigerians every December, encouraging them to prioritise their health, remain active, and maintain strong community bonds in order to age with dignity and joy.
Speaking on behalf of the Ebonyi State First Lady, Professor Nkechi Echiegu described the programme as life changing and praised Senator Oluremi Tinubu for remembering the elderly and adding value to their later years. She also prayed for the continuity and sustainability of the initiative.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barrister Felicia Nwamkpuma, commended both the First Lady of Nigeria and Governor Francis Nwifuru for their commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable groups in the state. She assured beneficiaries that the state government would continue to support programmes aimed at social welfare and inclusion.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Deaconess Emerald Akaji and Mrs Francisca Ola, expressed gratitude to the First Lady and the wife of the Ebonyi State Governor for their compassion and transparency. They described the support as timely and prayed for wisdom and strength for the First Family, saying the initiative had brought renewed hope and comfort to the elderly in Ebonyi State.
