Rivers First Lady Empowers 350 Senior Citizens
Katherine Abayomi
The Renowned Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) is an initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. This is set to empower 250 senior citizens aged 65 and above in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
N1.9 billion will be disbursed nationwide, including to the FCT and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA). Out of this, N200,000 will be distributed to each beneficiary.
Speaking at the second edition of the RHIESS at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the First Lady, Lady Valerie Fubara, stated that the programme is designed to support the welfare of senior citizens annually.
She said that the governing board of the Renewed Hope Initiative, represented by the First Lady of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, decided to increase the grant from N100,000 in 2023 to N200,000 this year to further support elderly citizens during the festive season.
Organised under the theme “TOTAL WELLNESS: Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Lifestyle,” Lady Valerie Fubara urged the beneficiaries to prioritize their health by eating well, staying hydrated, exercising, and getting adequate rest.
In her address, the wife of Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, disclosed that the 250 beneficiaries in the State will receive N200,000 each under the second phase of the scheme.
She explained that Governor Siminalayi Fubara also directed the addition of 100 Rivers elders to the list of beneficiaries to support the gesture by the First Lady of Nigeria, bringing the total sum disbursed in the State to N70 million.
Lady Valerie Fubara announced that the Rivers State Office of the Renewed Hope Initiative would reward eight persons who participated in the “Every Home a Garden Competition” from Rivers State, emphasising that the best overall entry would be rewarded with N1 million. In contrast, the other seven victorious entries will receive N250,000 each.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof Ngozi Odu, expressed appreciation to Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara for extending a hand of fellowship to the elderly and urged the beneficiaries to pray for the success of the State Government.
In her welcome remarks, State Coordinator, Renewed Hope Initiative, Hon Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, thanked Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara for always complementing the efforts of the First Lady of Nigeria by providing additional medical and financial support to increase the number of beneficiaries of the scheme at the State level.it featured free medical check-ups for the beneficiaries.
