The wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered 9,500 persons living with disabilities nationwide with a recapitalisation grant of N200,000 each, totalling N1.9 billion. The support, delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, was announced on Wednesday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The First Lady also extended similar financial backing to 250 disabled military and police veterans to strengthen their small business ventures. According to her, the economic empowerment scheme forms part of the RHI Social Investment Programme, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She stressed that national development grows stronger when every citizen is enabled to contribute meaningfully. Quoting Helen Keller, she said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. These words remind us that a truly inclusive society is built when we stand together, creating opportunities that empower everyone to contribute their unique gifts to national progress.”
Mrs Tinubu explained that RHI is providing N200,000 business recapitalisation grants to 250 persons with disabilities in each state and the FCT to strengthen existing small businesses and improve livelihoods. She added, “In addition, each state, the FCT, and DEPOWA have received N50 million to be distributed to beneficiaries within their domains. In total, 9,500 beneficiaries are receiving N1.9 billion.”
She noted that in the last two years, RHI had supported more than 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, with direct grants to expand their enterprises.
In her welcome remarks, wife of the Chief of Defence Staff and President of DEPOWA, Mernan Oluyede, commended the First Lady for her compassion and dedication to uplifting disadvantaged Nigerians. She highlighted a UN report which shows that 1.3 billion people, representing 16 per cent of the world’s population, live with a disability and continue to face obstacles in education, healthcare, employment and social inclusion.
“Your unwavering compassion across all 36 states and the FCT sends a powerful message: every Nigerian, regardless of ability, deserves dignity, support, and opportunity,” Mrs Oluyede said.
She praised Mrs Tinubu’s leadership in agriculture, health, education, social investment and economic empowerment, noting that RHI programmes continue to transform families nationwide. She also called for a standing ovation in honour of the First Lady’s service.
Mrs Oluyede reaffirmed DEPOWA’s commitment to supporting the First Lady’s vision by advancing initiatives that uplift families within the Armed Forces and Police communities.
The theme for the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
Some beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to the First Lady. Master Warrant Officer Patrick Ocheje (retd) said the programme renewed the confidence of retired personnel. “It gave us hope that there is ability in disability. Even though we are retired, we are not tired. We thank the First Lady and pray she continues this support,” he said.
Inspector Adamu Yahaya, who had been ill for a decade, described the support as uplifting. He said the assistance “gladdens my heart,” and thanked Mrs Tinubu for remembering them.
Another retired police officer, ASP Izge Margimari, said he was overjoyed. “When I received the message inviting me here, I was very happy. In all my years of service, I have never experienced this level of kindness from a First Lady,” he stated.
