First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Empowers 250 Persons With Disabilities in Ekiti, Launches Nationwide Economic Support Programme

Nigeria’s First Lady and National Chairperson of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has extended financial support to 250 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Ekiti State as part of a broader national empowerment programme aimed at promoting inclusion and economic independence. The event, held at the Lady Jibowu Hall of the Ekiti State Government House in Ado-Ekiti, saw each beneficiary receive a ₦200,000 business enhancement grant, totalling ₦50 million.

The initiative, which coincided with the celebration of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities, represents a key component of the RHI’s Economic Empowerment Programme for PWDs. The First Lady was represented at the occasion by the Wife of the Ekiti State Governor and Ekiti RHI Coordinator, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, who reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian—regardless of physical limitations—is excluded from national development.

In her address, Senator Tinubu emphasized that the empowerment programme was designed to help PWDs strengthen their small businesses, improve their livelihoods, and gain greater financial stability. She explained that similar empowerment activities were being executed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring that a total of 9,250 PWDs nationwide benefit from the ₦200,000 recapitalization fund.

According to her, “Our nation grows stronger when every individual is empowered to contribute meaningfully. As Helen Keller once said, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ These words remind us that an inclusive society is built when opportunities are created for everyone to participate, regardless of their circumstances.”

Senator Tinubu also highlighted the achievements of the Renewed Hope Initiative since its inception. Over the last two years, RHI has reportedly supported more than 100,000 women petty traders, small-scale entrepreneurs, and PWDs with direct grants aimed at improving their businesses. Beyond economic empowerment, the initiative has also made significant interventions in agriculture, education, healthcare, and emergency relief—particularly for internally displaced persons and vulnerable communities.

She commended Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and his wife, Dr. Oyebanji, for aligning with the national drive for inclusive development. Their support, she noted, reflects a shared vision with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes equitable growth and the empowerment of underserved groups.

The First Lady further announced that the empowerment programme would become an annual event to continually support PWDs and recognize their contributions to national progress. She reiterated that the initiative is not merely a financial gesture but a strategic effort to foster independence and self-sufficiency among persons living with disabilities.

The Ekiti State edition of the programme was attended by top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi; Commissioner for Education, Dr. Bimpe Aderiye; and the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, among several other dignitaries.

While many Nigerians praised the initiative as a meaningful intervention for PWDs, some social commentators expressed differing views about sustainability and the need for long-term structural solutions. Nevertheless, the Ekiti event reinforced the First Lady’s broader vision of building an inclusive society where all citizens—regardless of physical ability—are given opportunities to thrive.