First Lady Oluremi Tinubu holding a baby in one of her state visits

Richard Elesho

Senator Oluremi Tinubu is an experienced public servant who has never left anyone in doubt about her pro-people tendencies. The Nigerian first lady will not permit bureaucracy and paucity of funds to frustrate her support for the president in his dream of bringing the good life to the citizenry. She went about her agenda with the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, as the cornerstone of her interventions.

The RHI came as a major component of the Tinubu presidency. It was launched less than a month into the life of the administration, specifically on Friday, 23 June 2023. That day, dignitaries stormed the state house to associate with the pet programme.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu

Since the takeoff, the programme has focused on the five thematic areas of agriculture, education, economic empowerment, health and social investment, liberating a multitude of beneficiaries from the shackles of ignorance, poverty, and diseases. Suffice it to clarify that the programmes are carried out in collaboration with wives of the governors in the 36 states, irrespective of political affiliation. The governors’ wives are the coordinators of the project in their respective states. RHI, with its grassroots focus, delivered the earliest social reinvestment missions of the administration. Its train has moved around the length and breadth of the country, touching vulnerable groups along the way.

A glance at its diary:

In its first month of operation, the scheme donated N250,000 each to 57 families affected by flooding in Abuja’s TradeMore Estate, amounting to N14.25m. From here, it moved to Borno, where it disbursed N500m to 1,709 victims of insurgency. Each of them also received N250,000.

A month later, on August 26, 2023, the first lady announced 43 scholarships worth N4 m each and covering four academic sessions. The RHI, in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency, launched a digital literacy initiative that trained 35 women, each receiving N100,000 and a laptop.

In September 2023, the RHI pledged N1 m each to 500 displaced families from Mangu, Plateau State. On December 21, 2023, the First Lady donated N950m to police, military retirees, and senior citizens. This formed part of the Elderly Support Scheme, aiding at least 250 individuals aged 65 and above.

Towards the end of 2023, Mrs Tinubu launched a garden initiative with an offer of N20 million to encourage families to go into farming. The agricultural first move has since been rebranded and expanded to the states. For instance, the programme was launched in all regions of the country.

She said N10 million would be disbursed to 20 women in each of the north-central states of Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, and Kogi at the regional launch in Jos on 16 April, 2024.

In March 2024, Mrs Tinubu announced a further expansion of the RHI focus to cover making food available for persons living with disabilities, widows and other vulnerable groups. She stated this through the Wife of the Vice President and Vice Chairman of RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, when the program was launched in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The food outreach program has travelled to virtually all states.

Mrs Tinubu, a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, made thousands of bags of rice available as food palliative across the country in December 2024. The Lokoja consignment of the item was shared in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and other faith-based groups.

The elderly and widows enjoy a special place in the RHI budget. About N2b has been dedicated to this group.  The fund provides succour to hundreds of persons aged 65 years and above.

Between August and December 2023, the RHI distributed N50m in grants to 1,000 female petty traders in three states—Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Edo. The initiative formed part of a larger N1.8bn plan to empower 37,000 women petty traders nationwide.

The RHI programmes are sometimes implemented outside the shores of the country to cater for the needs of Nigerians in the diaspora. A sampler: The programme has been constructed and furnished. A health facility in Sierra Leone valued at over N150m. The facility is the first port of call for Nigerians with health challenges in that West African country.

In addition to her interventions through the RHI, the first lady is a strong advocate for women’s rights, protection and prosperity. Indeed, she is the national matron of the National Council for Women Societies, NCWS.

Wondering about the source of the funds since the office of the president’s wife is not known to the appropriation laws? Mrs Tinubu has an answer. At a meeting with governors’ wives at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, she said, “I know people are always saying, ‘Where do I get the billions from? I’m going to address that. We are an NGO; people give us money.” She named the BUA Group among her notable donors, most of whom, she said, prefer to remain anonymous.