ELDERLY WOMEN EMPOWERED WITH N25M AS RHIESS BIRTHS IN OGU

250 elderly women drawn from across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State have been economically empowered with a sum of 25 million naira courtesy the renewed hope initiative of the federal government of Nigeria.

The Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun made the disclosure while presenting cash and gift items to the beneficiaries at the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS), with the theme "Better Days Ahead" facilitated by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, held at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta.

According to her, the event was to unveil the RHIESS as established by the Office of the First Lady, which is another agenda of the renewed hope of President Bola Tinubu,  to serve as economic empowerment for the elderly women in the State to ensure their well being in their old ages.

She urged them to embrace life to the fullest, prioritise their health and bond with families and friends in order to be at peace in their old age.

"We are here to unveil the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady. Every ward in all the 237 wards of the 20 LGAs of the State is represented in the Scheme and allowance given to accommodate the 250 beneficiaries. It is a promise made and kept to help the vulnerable families with financial support in order to ensure their well being in their old ages", Mrs. Abiodun said.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, appreciated the Wife of the Governor for registering over 230 of the women into the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme (OGSHIA) free of charge for the next 12 months to take care of all their health challenges by just visiting the nearest Primary Health Care (PHC) to them for treatment especially after the routine checks conducted on them at the venue of the empowerment.

While her counterpart from the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape, said she was not surprised at the First Lady's initiative as her antecedents as former Wife of Lagos State were unprecedented and appreciated Mrs. Abiodun for keying into the programme, with a call on the women to keep supporting the Wife of the Governor in order to cover more grounds in putting smiles on the faces of the people.

Adding her voice, a former Deputy Governor in the State, Alhaja Salmot Badru, lauded the programme, saying whoever forgets the elderly has forgotten that one day, old age will knock too and solicited for more support for the Governor's wife to keep succeeding.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, while appreciating the women for their presence and support said the idea of the event was borne out of love for the aged by the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu and the wife of the governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, in order for them not to suffer in their old ages and assured that all the women would leave the venue happy and fulfilled.

Highlights of the event was the symbolic presentation of OGSHIA cards as well as the sum of one hundred thousand naira to each beneficiary and gift items.