..Commends Benjamins-Laniyi’s innovative leadership
…As First Lady urges girls to dream big
…Initiative delivers support to women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities across six area councils

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday urged girls and young women to dream boldly and pursue their ambitions with discipline, determination and purpose as the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) marked three years of life-changing interventions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reaching 27,345 beneficiaries.

Speaking at the anniversary celebration held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Mrs Tinubu said vision and preparation remain indispensable ingredients for success, particularly for young women aspiring to leadership and national development.

“Dreaming is what keeps any human being going. If you sit and don’t have a dream, a vision of what you want to become, it becomes very tough for you,” she said.

The First Lady, who is the National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, explained that the Dream Girls Project under the FCT chapter was designed to build confidence, nurture character and inspire girls to aspire to greater heights.

She also underscored the importance of etiquette and protocol, noting that such values equip young people to navigate leadership and professional responsibilities effectively.

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

Mrs Tinubu praised the immediate past FCT RHI Coordinator, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, for expanding the initiative’s reach through innovative programmes that strengthened support for women, girls and vulnerable groups across the territory.

“She has really turned around one talent that we gave to her. I sat here watching all the innovative programmes that you brought to the table,” the First Lady said.

Reflecting on the initiative’s journey under the theme, “Our Stories, Her Impact,” Mrs Tinubu recalled that RHI was inaugurated on July 7, 2023, to complement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through people-centred interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged Nigerians.

“The journey of the Renewed Hope Initiative began on 7th July, 2023 with its inaugural meeting at the State House. Thereafter, we hit the ground running by reaching out to communities in need,” she said.

She noted that the initiative’s first intervention was assistance to victims of the Trademoore Estate flood disaster in Lugbe, Abuja, in July 2023, adding that following its formal registration in August of the same year, the organisation had expanded its programmes across the country.

“The theme of this event, ‘Our Stories, Her Impact,’ aptly captures the significance of today’s programme. At the heart of every intervention, every programme and every outreach is a person whose life has been touched, a family that has found succour and support, or a community that has been empowered,” she said.

According to the First Lady, RHI has in the last three years delivered grants, scholarships, educational materials, skills acquisition programmes, healthcare interventions and emergency assistance to women, youths, children, veterans, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups nationwide.

“The testimonies from the Federal Capital Territory represent only a fraction of the work we have done across the nation,” she added.

Mrs Tinubu also acknowledged the support of state first ladies, RHI coordinators, development partners, donors and community leaders, while expressing appreciation to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for supporting the initiative’s activities.

She further commended Benjamins-Laniyi for documenting and showcasing the organisation’s achievements in the FCT.

“I commend the immediate past FCT RHI Coordinator, Dr. Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi, for documenting and showcasing three years of Renewed Hope Initiative impact in the FCT. As you move on to greater responsibility, I wish you Godspeed. I personally will miss your contributions,” she said.

Presenting the FCT impact report, Benjamins-Laniyi disclosed that 27,345 residents across the six area councils benefitted from RHI interventions implemented through five strategic pillars and more than 15 flagship programmes over the past three years.

She said the interventions reached 3,307 children, provided economic empowerment to 4,427 beneficiaries, supported 4,866 persons through food security and agricultural programmes, assisted 970 persons with disabilities, strengthened protection systems for 4,423 beneficiaries and provided welfare support to 550 elderly citizens.

According to her, the economic empowerment programmes were designed to promote self-reliance, while the agricultural interventions enhanced household resilience and food production.

“The RHI remains committed to expanding its reach and deepening its interventions in the FCT through continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders,” she said.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as a transformative platform that has placed women and children at the centre of national development, translating policy into measurable outcomes through collaboration with traditional institutions.

“In FCT communities, we are seeing fewer cases of child marriage and more girls complete secondary school. This is prevention in action,” she said, adding that the initiative had demonstrated that cultural values and social progress could coexist.

Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmud, commended the First Lady for matching compassion with practical action, noting that the initiative was empowering women beyond conventional grant programmes.

“We’re not just giving women grants to go and farm. We’re giving them the opportunity and what people call agro-value chains so that they can also become agro-entrepreneurs,” she said.

President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Mernan Femi Oluyede, said the anniversary celebrated thousands of lives transformed through educational support, healthcare interventions, empowerment programmes and welfare assistance.

“The true measure of any intervention lies not in the numbers recorded, but in the lives transformed. Behind every empowerment programme, educational support initiative, healthcare intervention and welfare package is a story of renewed dignity, restored confidence and strengthened hope,” she said.

She added that military and police families, veterans, widows, students, persons with disabilities and vulnerable households had all benefitted from the initiative.

Closing the event, Mrs Tinubu urged beneficiaries to extend the same kindness they had received to others, stressing that compassion and service remain essential to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.

“To all the beneficiaries that RHI has impacted, I celebrate you. Your courage, determination and success stories are inspiring and encouraging.

“As you have been helped and assisted in one form or the other, do the same for a neighbour that we cannot see, no matter how small.

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