Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for selecting Ondo State as the host for the South-West unveiling of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The launch event, held at The Dome in Akure, featured the distribution of 10,000 medical kits—including scrubs and Crocs—to nurses and midwives across the South-West. Governor Aiyedatiwa hailed the First Lady as a national icon and praised her dedication to uplifting healthcare workers.
According to the Governor, the donation will significantly improve maternal and child healthcare services by boosting the morale of frontline workers. He noted that investing in maternal health delivers immense returns, both medically and economically, describing the initiative as a smart, targeted intervention aligned with the state’s healthcare objectives.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also applauded Senator Tinubu’s wider empowerment efforts, including financial support to market women, describing women’s empowerment as central to long-term development. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive policies, he noted that several initiatives have already been rolled out to support women, the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for ongoing federal government support, listing key projects such as the Federal University of Technology’s new teaching hospital, the upgrade of Adeyemi College to a University of Education, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a new Air Force secondary school in Igbara-Oke, and the dualization of the Ore-Ondo-Akure road.
During the event, Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized that the Renewed Hope Initiative aims to complement government efforts in improving the lives of Nigerians. She highlighted that the distribution of medical kits was meant to show appreciation for nurses and midwives, who remain vital to national health progress.
As part of her empowerment drive, the First Lady announced a N50 million grant to be disbursed through the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for the benefit of rural women. She also revealed that 200 women in the textile industry would receive support under the initiative.
Mrs. Tinubu praised Governor Aiyedatiwa for championing women’s welfare and for ensuring female representation in governance.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the First Lady for bringing the RHI launch to Ondo, describing it as a gesture of maternal compassion. She lauded the initiative’s health-focused components, including the “Free to Shine” campaign, aimed at eradicating mother-to-child transmission of diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Syphilis.
She also thanked Ondo women for their large turnout, saying their presence elevated the event’s significance.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, commended Senator Tinubu’s efforts in promoting accessible healthcare and noted that the RHI would help reduce maternal deaths and boost health worker morale.
Similarly, Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), praised the Tinubus for their commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, including promoting immunization and equitable access to care.
Earlier in a meeting with the Ondo State Council of Obas, Senator Tinubu urged traditional rulers to support her mission of uplifting women across Nigeria. She appreciated their warm welcome and referenced global health targets set for 2030 by bodies like the United Nations.
She also unveiled a forthcoming program, “Flow with Confidence,” which will provide 10,000 sanitary pads per state to girls in underserved areas.
In discussing agriculture, she highlighted the Young Farmers’ Club and a women’s gardening project, which has attracted a N400 billion agricultural fund, with each First Lady receiving N68.9 million to empower women farmers.
Other elements of the RHI include scholarship programs for students (with opportunities in Belarus) and the Alternative High School for Girls—targeted at teenage mothers—which provides education and child care services. The program, currently operational in Osun, is scheduled for rollout in Ondo State.
Speaking on behalf of the Ondo Council of Obas, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi (representing the Olowo of Owo), assured the First Lady of the traditional rulers’ full support and commended her for standing firmly beside the President.
Senator Tinubu also paid a courtesy visit to the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, during her time in Ondo.
