No fewer than 250 senior citizens in Delta State benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, receiving ₦200,000 each, a 50kg bag of rice, and free medical care provided through the Delta State Government and the Office of the Wife of the Governor.

The third edition of the programme, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba, carried the theme “Finding Joy in Old Age.” The event saw the Wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, represent the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, while Mrs. Josephine Emu spoke on behalf of the Delta First Lady.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu described RHIESS as a crucial social investment initiative aimed at ensuring that elderly Nigerians live with dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging. She noted that since 2023, the programme has celebrated senior citizens each December in recognition of their immense contributions to nation-building.

The scheme targets 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in each of Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), totaling 9,500 beneficiaries nationwide. Each receives ₦200,000, with ₦50 million allocated to each state, amounting to ₦1.9 billion approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Highlighting the moral duty to prioritize the elderly, the First Lady encouraged them to remain active, healthy, and engaged in community and charitable initiatives, stressing that ageing gracefully goes beyond longevity to include care, love, and respect.

Speaking through her representative, Mrs. Josephine Emu praised the First Lady’s intervention and reiterated the Delta State Government’s commitment to senior citizens, noting that ₦50 billion has been approved to offset outstanding pension liabilities at both state and local government levels.

Additional support for Delta beneficiaries included free medical care, medications, and a 50kg bag of rice for each participant, provided through the Office of the Wife of the Governor and the You Matter Charity Foundation.

Beneficiaries described the initiative as timely and impactful, offering prayers for continued peace, good governance, and development in Delta State and Nigeria.