Yola: The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has donated five million Naira and other assorted items to victims and families of those who lost their lives to flood in Yola South Local Government Area in Adamawa.
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, disclosed this during a condolence visit to the government and people of Adamawa on Tuesday.
It would be recalled that a devastating flood claimed some lives and displaced many people from their homes recently in Adamawa.
The first lady, who was represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, said the donations would assist the flood victims and families of those who lost their lives.
“We are also donating 1,000 Ankara fabric and six cartons of shea butter lotion, four cartons of shea butter oil, five cartons of petroleum jelly, two cartons of shea butter cream, 13 cartons of hand sanitiser, and others,” she said.
Tinubu also presented food items under the Outreach Programme of RHI to the First Lady of Adamawa for onward distribution to people living with disabilities and vulnerable groups in the state.
“We have distributed food items to 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ondo, and Plateau and by the grace of God, Bayelsa state will be the next beneficiary,” she said.
Tinubu commended the two partner donors, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and the other, who preferred anonymity, for their constant support and commitment.
Earlier, Hajiya Lami Fintiri, First Lady of Adamawa, who received the donations for onward distribution, commended the First Lady and the RHI for their support.
Fintiri said that the gesture would bring quick succour to the victims of the flood in the state.
The first lady of Adamawa, who was represented by Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, Deputy Governor of Adamawa, commended the first lady for the visit.
According to her, the number of people who lost their lives rose to 29, with thousands of people displaced from their homes.
“We have a camp where we have the people who were displaced, but due to the quick intervention of the state government, the people have returned and are counting their losses.
“So, we want to thank the federal government for all they have done for the people of Adamawa state and for raising the hope of the common man in the state, and I want to assure you that the donations will be shared accordingly,” she said.
Also, Mr Ubon Udoh, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of ASR Africa, said the collaboration with RHI was designed to cater to the vulnerable members of the community for poverty reduction.
Udoh said that ASR Africa committed 100 million dollars to impacting lives yearly.
“That is 50 million dollars spent every year within Nigeria, and another 50 million dollars is spent across the African continent.
“Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu is committed to a new and better Nigeria, and partnering with the RHI is the only way we can achieve this.
“Through this partnership with RHI, we can assure you that we will be steady partners to uplift our communities, within Nigeria and outside the country,” he said.
Similarly, the First Lady said that the Tony Elumelu Foundation was partnering with the RHI on the Women Economic Empowerment Programme to support 18,500 women across the country.
The first lady made the symbolic presentation of Financial Support to the beneficiaries of the RHI/Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme on Tuesday in Adamawa.
She said that the partnership would empower 500 women’s small businesses to set up and recapitalise with grants of N50,000 each.
Today, this programme is being inaugurated in Adamawa State and Niger State simultaneously. Also, we will disburse the empowerment funds to beneficiaries in other states and the FCT very shortly.
“So, I will be giving out the sum of N50,000 each to some of the beneficiaries at this event today,” she said.