In a heart-warming show of compassion and commitment to social welfare, no fewer than 250 elderly persons in Delta State have received a new lease of hope under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).
Each beneficiary went home with a ₦200,000 cash grant, a 50kg bag of rice, and access to free medical care, as the Delta State Government, through the Office of the Wife of the Governor, reaffirmed its resolve to ensure that senior citizens live their later years in dignity, comfort, and joy.
The beneficiaries were honoured during the third edition of the scheme, held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba. The event, themed “Finding Joy in Old Age,” celebrated senior citizens whose sacrifices laid the foundation for today’s society.
The Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, was represented at the event by the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Her Excellency Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, while Mrs. Josephine Emu delivered remarks on behalf of the Delta First Lady.
In her address, Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme as a critical social investment aimed at restoring dignity, happiness, and a sense of belonging to Nigeria’s senior citizens.
“This programme reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring that our elderly citizens live with dignity and joy in a nation that truly cares for its own,” the First Lady said.
She explained that since the inception of the current administration in 2023, the Renewed Hope Initiative has made it a tradition to celebrate and support senior citizens every December, in recognition of their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
According to her, the scheme supports 250 vulnerable elderly persons aged 65 years and above in each of the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500.
Each beneficiary receives ₦200,000, with a total sum of ₦1.9 billion approved for disbursement by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative. She added that ₦50 million was allocated to each state, including the FCT and DEPOWA.
The First Lady stressed that prioritising the welfare of elderly citizens—especially during the festive season—is both a moral responsibility and a source of shared national joy.
“They walked difficult paths so that younger generations could have smoother journeys. It is our duty to ensure that they spend their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity,” she said.
She further encouraged senior citizens to remain active, healthy, and positively engaged in their communities, noting that ageing gracefully is not measured by years alone but by the love, care, and respect extended to them.
Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Josephine Emu, the Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady of Nigeria for the thoughtful and compassionate intervention.
She reaffirmed the Oborevwori administration’s strong commitment to the welfare of senior citizens, revealing that the Delta State Government has approved ₦50 billion to clear outstanding pension liabilities at both the state and local government levels.
Mrs. Emu also announced additional support for Delta beneficiaries through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation, including free medical care, free medications, and a 50kg bag of rice for each elderly person.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, several beneficiaries described the intervention as timely and life-changing, thanking the First Lady of Nigeria, the Delta State Government, and the Office of the Wife of the Governor for remembering and honouring the elderly.
They offered heartfelt prayers for sustained peace, good governance, and continued development in Delta State and across Nigeria.
