03/12/2025
WORLD DISABILITIES DAY: NIGERIA'S FIRST LADY EMPOWERS PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IN RIVERS
..As Lady Fubara bags Universal Health Coverage Ambassador Award.
As part of activities to mark the 2025 edition of World Disabilities Day, wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has empowered persons living with disabilities across the states with special grants to promote their business initiatives and improve their standards of living.
The event was also used to launch the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme for persons living with disabilities.
Represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara at the event which held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the initiative is to improve the economic well-being of the beneficiaries.
"Today, the Renewed Hope Initiative will provide the sum of N200,000 Business Recapitalisation Grants to 250 persons with disabilities in each state and federal capital territory to support small businesses and strengthen their means of livelihood."
Lady Fubara noted that the programme is a critical component of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and seeks to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind, especially those whose needs are often overlooked.
She explained that over the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported over one hundred thousand women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses.
"Our commitment to improving lives has also been demonstrated through various interventions in agriculture, economic Empowerment, education, health and social welfare aimed at improving the well-being of families across our country."
Lady Fubara also in her remarks, urged persons living with disabilities not to allow themselves to be defined by their physical circumstances but deploy their creative capital and abilities for their personal well-being and make meaningful contributions to the society.
She pointed out that disability is not a tragedy but discrimination against persons living with physical disabilities is the real tragedy, and called on corporate organizations to contribute towards the upliftment of the economic well-being of people with disabilities
Lady Fubara expressed gratitude to the Nigeria first lady for her inclusive policies and assured that Rivers State Government will work with the National Disabilities Commission to promote the well-being of people living with physical disabilities.
The Executive Secretary of the Rivers State contributory
Health protection Programme (RIVCHPP) Dr Vetty Agala who presented a talk on " Protecting PLWD through Governor Siminalayi Fubara's Health for All Rivers Initiative said the Rivers State government has put in place special health care policy for persons with disabilities noting that people living with disabilities constitute an important segment of the population and deserves dignity.
She said the beneficiaries of the grants will be covered in the free medical care programme of the Rivers State government. She also confered the Universal Health Coverage Ambassador Award on the wife of Rivers State Governor.