Renewed Hope Initiative Supports 250 Elderly in Delta with ₦200,000, Rice, medical care

No fewer than 250 elderly persons in Delta State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), receiving ₦200,000 each, a 50kg bag of rice, and free medical care.

The support was provided during the third edition of the scheme, held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba, with the theme “Finding Joy in Old Age.” The Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was represented by the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, while Mrs. Josephine Emu spoke on behalf of the Delta First Lady.

In her address, Senator Tinubu described the initiative as a vital social investment designed to ensure that elderly Nigerians live with dignity and joy. She said, “This social investment programme embodies our ongoing effort to ensure that our elderly citizens live with dignity and joy, in a nation that genuinely cares for its own.”

She explained that since 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has celebrated senior citizens every December in recognition of their contributions to nation-building. According to her, 250 vulnerable elderly persons aged 65 and above are supported in each of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and among DEPOWA veterans, bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500.

Each beneficiary receives ₦200,000, with ₦1.9 billion approved for nationwide disbursement and ₦50 million allocated to each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA. Emphasising the importance of prioritising the elderly, especially during the festive season, she said, “They have walked difficult paths so that younger generations may have smoother roads to travel. It is our duty to ensure they live their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity.”

Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Josephine Emu, Deaconess Oborevwori thanked the First Lady for the intervention and reaffirmed the commitment of the Delta State Government to senior citizens. She disclosed that the state has approved ₦50 billion to clear outstanding pension liabilities and announced additional support for beneficiaries, including free medical care, free medications, and a 50kg bag of rice through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation.

Several beneficiaries described the intervention as timely and impactful, thanking the First Lady of Nigeria and the Delta State Government, and offering prayers for continued peace, good governance, and development in Delta State and Nigeria.