By Onwa Ekor
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reeled out key achievements of the Renewed Hope Initiative in agriculture, education and health, urging traditional rulers to help drive federal government programmes to the grassroots.
Tinubu made this known Friday, during an interface with the Cross River Council of Traditional Rulers at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Calabar.
The meeting came after the launch of the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme and the commissioning of some projects in the state.
She said the Renewed Hope Initiative is anchored on five pillars: education, social investment, agriculture, health and economic empowerment.
“We inherited challenges, but from the beginning we made it clear that we were not interested in blaming anyone.
“These are challenges that have developed over time as a country and we must collectively work to address them,” she said.
The First Lady disclosed that agricultural support programmes, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, had disbursed over ₦68.5 million to farmers and women, as well as distributed farming tools to beneficiaries.
She added that under the initiative’s scholarship scheme, indigent university students receive ₦1 million annually and a laptop.
“Some beneficiaries have already graduated while others are in their final year,” she said.
On health, Tinubu cited her involvement in the HPV vaccination campaign for young girls and stressed the importance of birth registration for access to basic services.
Acknowledging the economic hardship following fuel subsidy removal, she said government had introduced palliatives, including increased allowances for NYSC members and improved welfare for pensioners.
“Like a tree, Nigeria must be nurtured and protected by all of us. If the tree is not strong and healthy, all of us will suffer the consequences,” she said.
The First Lady assured that beneficiaries were selected based on need, not connections.
“Our commitment is to ensure these opportunities reach people who genuinely need them, regardless of where they come from or who they know,” she added.
Tinubu called for stronger collaboration among government, traditional institutions, the private sector and development partners to achieve meaningful national development.
“There will always be people who complain. But what is important is that we remain focused and ensure our programmes ultimately serve the people,” she said.
Earlier, Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Abi, His Royal Majesty Solomon Edward, described traditional rulers as critical partners in peacebuilding and grassroots mobilisation.
“Through our traditional councils, we remain strategically positioned to support government initiatives, promote peace and security, while mobilising our people towards progress,” the monarch said.
He called for greater recognition and capacity building for traditional rulers and urged government to remain sensitive to the economic realities facing citizens.
“The people and their welfare must remain at the centre of every government policy and reform,” he said.
The traditional rulers reaffirmed their commitment to support federal and state governments in promoting peace, stability and development in Cross River.
