From the military era to democratic governance, Nigeria’s First Ladies have initiated different programmes to support federal and state governments’ initiatives targeting women, youths and children.
Two notable programmes are the Better Life Programme for Rural Women by Maryam Babangida (1985–1993) and the Future Assured programme by Aisha Buhari (2015–2023).
Through such programmes, the First Ladies have continued to impact the lives of women, children and youths across the country.
In 2023, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu unveiled yet another programme, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), with one mission – to build a better life for families across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
With the slogan, “Renewed Hope Initiative: Towards a Better Life for Families”, the initiative operates within President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, by ensuring that women are engaged in productive activities that contribute to the socio-economic development of individuals, communities and the nation at large.
Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a strategic framework designed to revitalize Nigeria’s economy, strengthen national security, and improve citizens’ welfare through targeted policies and structural reforms.
The RHI, on the other hand, specifically targets vulnerable populations—including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the elderly, farmers, traders, and underserved communities—through coordinated interventions ranging from economic empowerment to agriculture, education, and social protection support.
Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Pioneer Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat and RHI Coordinator in FCT, described the impact of the initiative in FCT as “life changing”.
Benjamins-Laniyi, who served in these capacities between October 2023 and May 2026, noted that prior to the RHI, women in the FCT faced systemic marginalisation and pervasive poverty.
The coordinator, who is currently the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, pointed out that many women were struggling with severe underrepresentation in governance and limited access to economic empowerment.
She added that the RHI had not only given women in FCT a new lease of life, but also provided them with opportunities to thrive in their various endeavours.
The coordinator added that the initiative had significantly impacted communities in many ways, by providing essential services to those in need, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education services.
“This is based on RHI’s belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Benjamins-Laniyi disclosed that in less than three years, the initiative had impacted 27,980 beneficiaries and still counting, across the six area councils of the FCT.
“For three remarkable years, the RHI in the FCT has stood as a beacon of empowerment, inclusion, and transformation – touching lives, strengthening families, restoring hope, and building pathways to opportunity.
“The renewed hope initiative in FCT has advanced a people-centred movement that places women, children, families, and communities at the heart of development.
“Across the six area councils of the territory, the initiative has delivered interventions that have empowered women economically, strengthened family resilience, advanced maternal and child wellbeing and supported vulnerable communities.
“The initiative also expanded opportunities for girls and young women, promoted environmental sustainability, fostered inclusion for persons with disabilities and created pathways for leadership and entrepreneurship,” she said.
She said that out of the 27,980 beneficiaries, 10,500 adolescent girls benefited from the initiative’s “Flow with Confidence: Pad-A-Girl Impact Campaign”, designed to address menstrual health, girl-child dignity and school retention.
Benjamins-Laniyi said that RHI also trained 1,500 school girls and boys on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics across the six area councils of the FCT.
The goal, according to her, is to encourage science and technology education among young boys and girls.
“Also, 620 adolescent boys and girls were trained on self-defence and strategies to prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” she said.
To support women to expand their business, the coordinator said that a total of 3,220 received N50, 000 each, under the RHI Petty Traders’ Grant, amounting to N161 million.
According to her, the intervention is designed to recapitalise micro-businesses owned by women and informal traders, with a view to strengthen household income and economic resilience.
One of the beneficiaries, Esther Bulus, 14, described the intervention as very “helpful and supportive”, adding that it boosted her self-esteem and enabled her to attend school with confidence.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Maimuna Erondi, who sells fish and groundnut cake, said that the support significantly increased her capital.
For Mrs Veronica Olajide, a beneficiary, who sells women shoes, the gesture was “life impacting,” stressing that the N50, 000 grant had enabled her to expand her business.
To leave no one behind, the coordinator said that the RHI supported 550 elderly persons, under its Elderly Support Scheme with the theme, “Finding Joy in Old Age”.
She explained that the scheme specifically assisted elderly citizens aged 65 and above with N200, 000 cash grant, essential food palliatives, and free medical outreach.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, applauded the support saying, elders must feel valued, protected, and supported by society.
“By prioritising elderly welfare, the First Lady reaffirmed that those who laboured in their youth deserved care, respect, and security in later years,” Mahmoud said.
In addition, Benjamins-Laniyi said 4,180 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) received relief materials and empowerment support under the RHI Zero Hunger 6.0. programme.
“The initiative also provided financial support to 250 PWDs to enhance their small businesses, fostering a disability-inclusive society for social progress.
“Similarly, a total of 720 PWDs in Karmajiji PWDs and other locations across the six area councils equally benefitted from RHI relief materials and empowerment support under the RHI’s Succour and Smiles to PWDs Skills Training Grant,” she said.
Benjamins-Laniyi added that a total of 1,842 stakeholders were trained on disability policy, including sexual reproductive health, child protection and GBV reporting.
The move, according to a legal practitioner and Chairman, Albinism Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Mr Rex Irame, created a more inclusive and accessible environment for PWDs in the FCT.
To enhance sustainable food supply in homes, the coordinator further said that a total of 416 women benefitted from RHI Every-Home-A-Garden Initiative.
She said that the initiative was designed to promote household-level food production, nutrition security, and source of income for women-led households.
The initiative, she said, had increased household’s interest in farming, using available space in the house.
She said that the approach would trigger a gradual revitalisation of Nigeria’s vast agricultural endowment, beginning from the home, with women taking the lead across the country.
“It is a bold attempt to reset Nigeria on the path to revitalising her vast agricultural endowments across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, with women leading the way.
“It is not only promoting self-reliance but improving nutrition and economic empowerment through backyard gardens.” she said.
She said that under the RHI Women Empowerment Scheme, a total of 700 women across various economic sectors were empowered with start-up kits including freezers, electric grinders, cookers/ovens and generator sets.
To position agriculture as a pathway for youth empowerment, food security and sustainable livelihoods, the coordinator said that 20 young girls and boys benefited from the First Lady’s Young Famers Club.
She said each of the beneficiaries received N500,000 each under the RHI Women Agricultural Empowerment programme.
“A total of 250 women farmers were also supported with tools, inputs and visibility to strengthen the agricultural value chain under the Muje Kuje Farmers Empowerment programme,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Victoria Sani, a poultry farmer described the intervention as “life changing”, adding the support had improved the livelihood of her family.
To equip women with digital skills to participate meaningfully in the technology-driven economy, a total of 100 women, including women with disabilities benefitted from the RHI Women ICT Training and Empowerment Programme.
Benjamins-Laniyi said that the RHI interventions had restored government presence at the grassroots, rekindled public trust, and positioned women as the primary conduits for renewed hope within families and communities.
“Every beneficiary of RHI represents a story: a woman empowered, a family strengthened, a child protected, a dream restored, a community transformed.
“Together, these stories have become the legacy of RHI in the FCT thanks to the First Lady,” she said.
While noting the significant impact of the RHI in the FCT, experts, however, argue that with high inflation and increased living costs, the real value of cash grants, agricultural inputs, and economic empowerment tools can quickly be eroded.
They maintain that when small grants are given to local farmers and traders, the funds are frequently absorbed by basic living expenses like food rather than being used to expand their businesses.
According to them, the real test of the RHI is whether it can be properly institutionalised for the long term.
For these interventions to last, experts advise that state governors’ wives, who act as state coordinators, must successfully transition the RHI’s frameworks into formal state government social welfare systems.
