Senator Tinubu reassures Nigerians of Renewed Hope Initiative’s non-partisan focus, urges greater roles for traditional leaders, and unveils fresh empowerment programmes
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed that all programmes under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) are strictly non-partisan, stressing that the interventions are designed to uplift families and communities across the country.
Speaking at an interactive session with traditional rulers and religious leaders in Lagos, the First Lady highlighted the need to recognize traditional institutions in the ongoing constitutional review. According to her, giving clearer constitutional roles to traditional rulers would enhance their contributions to national development.
She described traditional and religious leaders as custodians of culture and morality who are closest to the grassroots, urging them to intensify advocacy on public health issues such as increased testing for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, as well as acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for young girls.
Senator Tinubu also unveiled two forthcoming RHI projects: the Green Nigeria Challenge, designed to promote environmental consciousness, and the Flow With Confidence programme, which will provide rural schoolgirls with a year-long supply of disposable sanitary pads to reduce absenteeism during menstrual cycles.
Commending the breadth of RHI’s impact, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu applauded the initiative’s interventions in agriculture, health, education, and social investment. He noted that women and youths have benefited from empowerment schemes, the establishment of Young Farmers Clubs, advocacy on cervical cancer prevention, as well as scholarships supporting girl-child education.
In his remarks on behalf of Lagos traditional rulers, the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs and Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, lauded the First Lady’s programmes but called for similar emphasis on creating alternative educational pathways for boys.
The First Lady’s engagements in Lagos continued with the RHI/SDG Women Empowerment Programme, targeted at 500 women, and the commissioning of the Lagos State Leather Hub, further strengthening grassroots economic empowerment.
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