By Joy Baba-Yesufu
Nigeria’s First Lady and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday celebrated the third anniversary of the Initiative, highlighting its vast impact on millions of Nigerians through targeted social welfare interventions.
Speaking at a commemorative event themed “Our Stories, Her Impact” at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, the First Lady described the RHI as a people-centered intervention designed to complement President Bola Tinubu’s administration by improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups.
Senator Tinubu recalled that the Initiative commenced operations shortly after its inauguration in July 2023, with its first intervention providing immediate relief to victims of the Trademoore Estate flood disaster in Abuja.
She added that since then, the organization has expanded its reach across the 36 states to support women, youths, children, veterans, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and communities affected by conflict and natural disasters.
“At the heart of every intervention is a person whose life has been touched, a family that has found support, or a community that has been empowered.
“The testimonies we celebrate today reflect only a fraction of the work being carried out across Nigeria,” the First Lady stated.
She commended State First Ladies, development partners, traditional rulers, and community leaders for their steadfast support in executing the Initiative’s programmes nationwide.
In her goodwill message, the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Mernan Oluyede, praised the First Lady’s commitment to widows, veterans, students, and vulnerable households.
Oluyede noted that beyond financial assistance, the RHI has effectively restored dignity and renewed confidence for thousands of beneficiaries.
Delivering the keynote reflection, the FCT Coordinator of RHI and Director General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, described the programme as “a movement of compassion, dignity, and opportunity.”
Benjamins-Laniyi highlighted several key intervention areas that have driven the initiative’s success such as digital skills acquisition and support for women entrepreneurs, targeted agricultural inputs for local farmers and youth development schemes, and disaster relief and dedicated inclusion programmes for persons with disabilities.
She concluded that the Initiative has successfully demonstrated that governance can have a human face by directly reaching ordinary citizens at the grassroots level.
The anniversary event was well-attended by senior government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, civil society organizations, and numerous beneficiaries from across the Federal Capital Territory.
Nigeria, Ghana insurance regulators strengthen ties to boost regional economic growth
National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) of Nigeria and Ghana’s National Insurance Commission (NIC) have strengthened partnership to reinforce the role of industry in sustainable regional economic growth.
The Nigeria’s Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, said this when the Commissioner for Insurance of Ghana, Dr Abiba Zakariah, paid a working visit to NAICOM on Tuesday in Abuja.
The engagement focused on advancing cross-border cooperation in insurance innovation and reinforcing the role of the industry in driving sustainable regional economic growth.
In his address of welcome, Nigeria’s Commissioner for Insurance, underscored the critical role of insurance in economic development.
Omosehin emphasised that meaningful poverty reduction across Africa remained unattainable without significantly increasing insurance penetration.
He said insurance was essential for risk management, financial resilience, and inclusive growth.
Responding, Zakariah expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening partnerships within the region.
She noted that prioritising collaboration among African insurance regulators was key to unlocking innovation, expanding market access, and enhancing financial inclusion across the continent.
The visit highlights both nations’ shared resolve to leverage regulatory cooperation and InsurTech advancements to build a more resilient and integrated African insurance landscape. NAN
