The Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) has put smile on the faces of 250 elderly persons in Delta State, following financial support and other life-touching provisions made to them.
The initiative gave N200,000 to each benefitting elderly person who as well got a 50kg bag of rice each and free medicare by the Delta State Government through the office of the wife of the
governor.
They got the supports during the third edition of the scheme, held at the Government House, Asaba with the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age.’
In her speech, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, described the scheme as a vital social investment programme designed to ensure that elderly Nigerians live with dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging.
Represented by Tobore Oborevwori, wife of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Tinubu stated, “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 the inception of the current administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate senior citizens every December in recognition of their immense contributions to nation-building.
The scheme, she said supports 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in each of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA)—amounting to 9,500 beneficiaries nationwide.
Each beneficiary receives ₦200,000, with a total of ₦1.9 billion approved for disbursement by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative, adding that ₦50 million was allocated to each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA.
She said that prioritizing elderly citizens, especially during the festive season, is both a moral duty and a source of collective joy, thus she encouraged them to remain active, healthy, and engaged in community and charitable activities.
Speaking through her representative, Josephine Emu, Tobore Oborevwori, expressed appreciation to the president’s wife for the compassionate intervention.
She restated the commitment of the Oborevwori administration to the welfare of senior citizens, noting that the Delta State Government has approved ₦50 billion to offset outstanding pension liabilities at both state and local government levels.
Emu announced additional support for Delta beneficiaries through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation, including free medical care, free medications, and a 50kg bag of rice for each elderly person.
Beneficiaries who spoke with newsmen described the intervention as timely and impactful, and thanked the Delta State Government, and the Office of the Wife of the Governor.
