Renewed Hope Initiative Marks 3 Years as First Lady Urges Girls to Dream Big and Stay Focused

(The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. Photo by Nation News)

On Tuesday, as the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) celebrated three years of interventions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where its programs have benefited over 27,000 residents, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urged girls and young women to nurture big dreams and pursue them with discipline and purpose.

Speaking at a commemorative ceremony at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, the First Lady stated that success requires desire, planning, and a clear vision, especially for young women who want to contribute significantly to society.

“A person’s dreams are what sustain them. It gets really difficult for you if you don’t have a dream or a vision of what you want to be,” she remarked.

The goal of the Dream Girls project under the FCT chapter of the Renewed Hope Initiative, according to Mrs. Tinubu, National Chairman of the initiative, is to prepare young girls for leadership and future chances by inspiring them with aspiration, confidence, and character.

She also emphasized the significance of manners and procedure, pointing out that these abilities frequently dictate how people behave in public and professional settings.

“You don’t know when you will be called upon to do something, so you have to learn a lot about protocol and etiquette,” she stated.

During the event, the First Lady praised Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the immediate past FCT RHI Coordinator, for broadening the initiative’s scope and launching creative programs that improved assistance for women, girls, and vulnerable populations throughout the region.

“One of the skills we gave her has truly improved.” Mrs. Tinubu remarked, “I sat here watching the innovation, all the innovative programs that you brought to the table.”

The First Lady, reflecting on the initiative’s three-year journey under the theme “Our Stories, Her Impact,” stated that RHI was founded to supplement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through people-centered interventions meant to improve livelihoods and create opportunities for underprivileged Nigerians.

The Renewed Hope Initiative’s journey started on July 7, 2023, when it held its first meeting at the State House. After that, we immediately began assisting underprivileged areas,” she stated.

She claims that the organization’s first action was in July 2023, when it offered assistance to flood victims at Trademoore Estate in Lugbe, Abuja.

The following month, the initiative was officially registered, she continued, and since then, its programs have spread across the country.

The significance of today’s program is appropriately captured by the event’s subject, “Our Stories, Her Impact.” Every program, outreach, and intervention has an individual whose life has been impacted, a family that has received help and support, or a community that has been empowered,” she stated.

According to Mrs. Tinubu, the initiative has provided grants, educational materials, scholarships, skill-building programs, healthcare interventions, and emergency assistance to women, youth, children, veterans, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups over the course of the last three years.

“The Federal Capital Territory testimonies are only a small portion of the work we have done nationwide,” she continued.

She congratulated the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his support and thanked state first ladies, RHI coordinators, development partners, sponsors, and community leaders for their support of the initiative’s programs.

Benjamin-Laniyi was also commended by the First Lady for recording and presenting the initiative’s accomplishments in the region.

“I applaud Dr. Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi, the most recent FCT RHI Coordinator, for recording and exhibiting the three years of Renewed Hope Initiative impact in the FCT. Godspeed to you as you take on more responsibility. She stated, “I will personally miss your contributions.”

During the presentation of the FCT impact report, Benjamins-Laniyi revealed that over the past three years, RHI interventions across the six area councils had helped 27,345 residents through more than fifteen primary programs and five strategic pillars.

According to her, 4,427 people received support for economic empowerment, while 3,307 children benefited from the program. Food security and agricultural programs reached an additional 4,866 beneficiaries; assistance was provided to 970 people with disabilities; protection and systems-strengthening initiatives benefited 4,423 people; and support was provided to 550 elderly people.

She claims that whereas agricultural interventions aimed to increase household resilience and boost food production, economic empowerment programs were created to promote self-reliance.

“Through ongoing collaboration with pertinent stakeholders, the RHI remains committed to deepening its interventions and broadening its reach in the FCT,” she stated.

Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, praised the program as a transformative platform that has put women and children at the center of development initiatives in her message of goodwill.

She said that by working with established institutions, RHI had assisted in turning policy into observable outcomes, improving access to economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities.

There are fewer child marriage incidences and more girls finishing secondary school in FCT communities. “This is prevention in action,” she remarked, noting that the program had shown that societal advancement and cultural values could coexist.

Speaking as well, Mariya Mahmud, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, commended the First Lady for fusing empathy with actual action, claiming the project had empowered women beyond words.

“We’re not merely providing scholarships to women so they can work on farms. We’re providing them with the chance to become agro-entrepreneurs through what are known as agro-value chains,” she stated.

According to Mrs. Mernan Femi Oluyede, President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), the anniversary honors lives changed by healthcare treatments, educational support, empowerment initiatives, and welfare assistance.

“The lives that are changed are the real test of any intervention, not the figures that are reported. Every welfare package, educational support program, healthcare intervention, and empowerment program has a backstory of regained dignity, self-assurance, and hope, she stated.

Oluyede stated that the initiative’s actions had helped vulnerable households, students, veterans, widows, military and police families, and people with disabilities.

As the celebration came to an end, the First Lady exhorted the recipients to help those in need in the same way that they had been helped, stating that the achievements over the previous three years should spur more kindness and service.

“I celebrate all of the beneficiaries that RHI has touched. Your bravery, tenacity, and accomplishments are uplifting and motivating.

“Do the same for a neighbor that we cannot see, no matter how small, as you have been helped and assisted in one way or another.

“As we look ahead, let’s continue to show compassion, lend a helping hand to those in need, and create opportunities that promote peace, progress, and prosperity for our nation,” she stated.