Wife of the President, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has commenced the distribution of food items to vulnerable groups in Abia State as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative social investment food outreach programme.
Speaking at the event held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Governor, Alex Otti commended Mrs. Tinubu for appreciating the pains many individuals and families are passing through in the face of economic challenges and for providing succour to them.
“Being the wife of the president has not stopped our dear first lady from being mindful of the grassroots population on whose votes everyone holding a political position in the country draws their powers.
“Today’s event is a proof that the poor and vulnerable in our country have a reliable friend in the first lady of Nigeria.
“We are glad to receive you and appreciate your generous sentiments to our great state in matters connected to the welfare of women and young people, the less privileged and those hit by the shipwrecks of life,” Gov. Otti stated.
The governor who noted that the challenge of poverty and its manifestations require a holistic programme of economic development, stressed the need for the development of a comprehensive tracking system to monitor progress as Nigeria battles poverty.
“The challenge of poverty and its manifestations in terms of hunger, homelessness, hopelessness require a holistic programme of economic development,
“One that prioritizes job creation for different demographics, especially women and young children.
“My position is that, whatever we do as leaders, we have a responsibility to keep our focus on finding a realistic path to overcoming the myriads of challenges facing the country, with economic destitution as one of its manifestation.
“It therefore entails that a comprehensive tracking system should be developed and managed locally to enable us monitor and assess our progress as we battle poverty together in the country,”Gov. Otti maintained.
The governor, however informed the August visitor that in Abia State, his government is mindful of the challenges facing many individuals and families, hence, the creation of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection on assumption of office, to tackle such challenges.
Speaking while handing over the food items for distribution, the First Lady, Mrs. Tinubu said that the aim of the programme is to further complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu in making life better for the people.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima said that the food outreach scheme began on March 8, 2024 and has so far been done in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
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She added that the foods items being distributed was made possible by two donors; Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative and an anonymous donor.
While advising the beneficiaries against selling the food items as they are for their families, she listed various programmes carried out by the Renewed Hope Initiative, including environment, education, socio-economic and others, maintaining that under the socio-economic pillar.
“We will be giving a grant of N200,000 to 250 persons with disabilities to recapitalize their existing small businesses in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Since the inception in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made significant progress in our efforts to support our people, particularly women and youths towards building a better life for their families,” Mrs. Tinubu stated.
Earlier, the wife of the Governor of Abia State and coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative in the state, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, while appreciating the first lady for her passion in assisting the less privileged and vulnerable people, announced that as a partner in the project, Abia State has provided 3,000 bags of 10 kg rice to add to the food items already donated by Mrs. Tinubu.
She said that the distribution exercise will continue in the coming weeks to ensure that many more families across the state benefit from the intervention and assured that it would be equitably distributed.