250 persons living with disabilities, including veterans from security agencies, have each received financial support of Two Hundred Thousand Naira(#200,000) to boost their small businesses, in commemoration of the 2025 World Disability Day.

The economic empowerment programme which is one of the pillars of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the the First Lady of the Federation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”

Represented by the Ogun State First Lady and the State Coordinator for RHI, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Senator Tinubu, who is the National Chairman of RHI, noted that the programme aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind.

“Today, the Renewed Hope Initiative will provide the sum of N200,000 as business recapitalization grants to 250 persons with disabilities in each state and the FCT. The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Associations will each receive N50 million to be distributed to beneficiaries in their respective domains,” Senator Tinubu said.

The First Lady added that over the past two years, RHI had supported over 100,000 women, petty traders, and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, through direct financial interventions aimed at expanding their enterprises, urging the beneficiaries to use the grants to grow their businesses into sustainable ventures that is capable of supporting their families.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, disclosed that her Ministry was working closely with the Ogun State House of Assembly to improve the welfare of persons with disabilities, noting that a motion mandating the presence of sign language interpreters in all MDAs had been passed.

“Your stories and daily perseverance inspire the policies we design and reinforce our resolve to ensure that every state, school, workplace and community fully welcomes you,” the Commissioner stated.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyi and Mrs. Temitope Oladipupo expressed gratitude to Senator Tinubu and Mrs. Abiodun for the financial support, describing the grant as a lifeline and promising to use it judiciously.