First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday disbursed N47 million and laptops to 47 beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) scholarship scheme, reaffirming her commitment to education and youth empowerment across Nigeria.
Each recipient, drawn from tertiary institutions nationwide, received N1 million and a brand-new laptop to support their studies.
The beneficiaries cut across various disciplines, medicine, law, engineering, education, sciences, and the humanities, with five in 400 level, 39 in 300 level, two in 200 level, and one in ND II.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu emphasised that the scholarship was driven by a commitment to serving humanity, not politics.
“This is not about politics; it is about people’s lives. Just as I have done in the past, I ask you, what will you also add to the table? You can grow and explore opportunities that will not hinder your education,” she said.
The First Lady urged the students to maximise the opportunity, assuring them of her determination to sustain the initiative.
“We have given you two years of grace, and some of you have two more years to complete your studies. We pray for continuity so that the programme can continue,” she added.
Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, praised the RHI as a complement to government’s education programmes, highlighting the administration’s broader support for students.
“In the last two years, the President has approved 12,434 bursary awards worth N10 billion in priority sectors like medicine and education, while N4 billion in scholarships has gone to 8,535 students,” he said.
Alausa noted that 55 per cent of the new RHI beneficiaries are in STEM-related fields such as medicine, nursing, engineering, and food science.
He also underscored the impact of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, which has already supported over 500,000 students with disbursements of about N100 billion.
“You don’t pay back until after graduation, NYSC, and employment, and even then, repayment is capped at 10 per cent of your salary,” he explained.
Chioma Uzodinmma, wife of the Imo State Governor and RHI National Secretary, congratulated the awardees, noting that each met the eligibility benchmark of a minimum 3.0 GPA.
She said the 2025 cohort follows earlier batches in 2023 and 2024, with each student receiving N1 million annually plus a laptop.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, described the gesture as a “life-changing package” that nurtures talent and bridges educational gaps nationwide.
Other dignitaries present included the wife of the Vice President and RHI National Vice Chairman, Hajia Nana
Shettima; wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila; and the wife of the Kwara State Governor, chairperson of the governors’ wives forum, among others.
