On the 23rd of June 2026, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) FCT's third anniversary was celebrated with fanfare at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Pioneer Mandate Secretary Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS-FCTA) and newly appointed Director-General Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Develpoment (MBNCWD), 27,345 citizens have so far benefitted from the scheme in the FCT.
Beneficiaries told touching stories of survival, growth and hope. First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu said 'The success of the RHI should be judged by the number of lives transformed. The testimonies from the FCT represent a fraction of the work we have done across the nation.' Present at the event were beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers and development partners. The FCT RHI report shows that 27,375 citizens benefitted in three years. The breakdown is as follows: The programme reached 3,307 children, 4,427 were economically empowered, 4,866 benefitted in food security and agriculture, 970 persons with disability (PWDs) were impacted, 550 elderly persons above 65 years old benefitted, 4,423 persons benefitted via social protection and system strenthening...
The Coordinator, Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi said: 'Our work focused on enabling households to improve food production, supporting income-generating activities, protecting children and vulnerable adults and strengthening local systems to continue services beyond our direct interventions. The initiative was built around five strategic pillars and more than 15 major interventions - vocational training, microgrants and market linkages, food/agricultural interventions (provision of inputs, training in improved farming techniques and post harvest support).
These interventions have translated to keeping businesses afloat as against liquidation, buy supplies, pay school fees, expand a trade, etc. For 50 year old Martha Demu, a.k.a. Loud It, a tailor and shoe maker, RHI has transformed her life by giving her a sewing machine and shoemaking tools. Martha sells her shoes for as much as N40,000. She said she was directionless before benefitting from the RHI programme. RHI moved Martha from dependence to dignity. The programme has helped her teach others the art of shoemaking.
The journey of the RHI started on the 7th of July 2023 with the inaugural meeting at State House. The first intervention came on July 13 2023 with support for flood victims in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The support for the RHI by the Minister & Minister of State for the FCT was duly acknowledged. The First Lady praised Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi for her dedication to the ideals of the RHI programme, which contributed immensely to her success as Coordinator.
Others who spoke were the Minister of Women Affairs - Hon. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, wife of the Onah of Abaji - Hajia Hauwa Ibrahim Baba (President of the 17 wives of the FCT Traditional Rulers Association); President of the Defence & Police Officers' Wives Association (DEPOWA) - Mrs. Meman Femi-Oluyede; 10 year old Temidayo (Elicited spoken word in honour of the First Lady); Beneficiaries of the RHI FCT NITDA programme (Girls in Tech); The Elderly; Persons With Disability (PWDs); Market Women and Women Leaders.
On the whole, the 6 Area Councils, 62 Wards and 17 Tribal Chiefdoms in the FCT have been positively impacted by the RHI proramme...
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