First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday marked the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) with a major national empowerment programme, disbursing ₦200,000 each to 9,500 beneficiaries across the country — a total of ₦1.9 billion in direct support to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The First Lady formally launched the initiative at Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, where 250 physically challenged military and police veterans received support. She said the intervention reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to inclusion, dignity, and shared prosperity, noting that the programme is being executed simultaneously in all 36 states, the FCT, and through DEPOWA.
According to her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Senator Tinubu emphasised that national growth is strengthened when every citizen is empowered to contribute meaningfully. Quoting disability rights advocate Helen Keller, she stated that building an inclusive society requires collective effort and the creation of opportunities for all.
Senator Tinubu highlighted the scale of support provided by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) since its establishment in 2023, noting that more than 100,000 small businesses — including those owned by PWDs — have already benefited from its recapitalisation scheme. She announced that the PWD Economic Empowerment Programme will now hold annually every December 3 in commemoration of IDPD.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, a senior military official described the initiative as “compassion in action,” aligning with RHI’s broader social investment efforts. The event, attended by disability groups, military families, and government officials, further underscored the First Lady’s commitment to making economic inclusion a national priority.
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