The Wife of Nigeria’s President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday provided financial support to 250 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) across Oyo State, as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, commemorating this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Each beneficiary received ₦200,000 in business recapitalization grants, while Oyo State received an additional ₦50 million to support the wider disability community. The programme was implemented simultaneously across all 36 states, the FCT, and DEPOWA.

Mrs. Tinubu, represented in Ibadan by Oyo State First Lady, Mrs. Tamunomini Makinde, said the initiative reflects the federal government’s commitment to building an inclusive economy. She noted, “Our nation grows stronger when every individual is empowered to contribute meaningfully. This programme ensures that PWDs nationwide can participate fully in economic life.”

A total of 9,500 PWDs nationwide will benefit from ₦1.9 billion under the RHI programme, making it one of the largest empowerment interventions for Nigerians with disabilities. Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on inclusive growth, social protection, and sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable citizens.

Over the past two years, RHI has supported over 100,000 petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, through direct cash grants. Other interventions include support for victims of floods, disasters, widows, the elderly, and orphans, as well as the Monthly Food Outreach Scheme, which has delivered food to 22 states and the FCT.

The First Lady announced that the Economic Empowerment Programme for PWDs will now be held annually on December 3, while thanking Governor Seyi Makinde and the Oyo State First Lady for their support in promoting disability inclusion.

Speaking at the event, Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi, Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, reiterated the state government’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasizing that “disability is not inability” and highlighting the deliberate quotas in education, health, employment, infrastructure, and social welfare to ensure PWDs are not marginalized.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, Lawal Lateef Kayode expressed gratitude to the First Lady and pledged that the funds would be responsibly used to grow businesses and improve livelihoods.