Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to traditional rulers in Cross River State to strengthen collaboration with government in ensuring that Federal Government programmes and policies translate into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
The First Lady made the call during an interface with traditional rulers at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Calabar, following her participation in the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in the South-South and the commissioning of projects in the state.
Senator Tinubu highlighted the Renewed Hope Initiative’s interventions across five major areas: education, social investment and development, agriculture, healthcare and economic empowerment.
According to her, agricultural programmes implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture have provided more than ₦68.5 million in support to farmers and women, alongside the distribution of agricultural tools to beneficiaries.
She also disclosed that the scholarship component of the initiative provides indigent university students with ₦1 million annually and a laptop, noting that some beneficiaries have graduated while others are currently in their final year.
On the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, particularly following the removal of the fuel subsidy, the First Lady acknowledged the difficulties while pointing to Federal Government measures introduced to cushion the effects of the reforms.
She cited increased allowances for National Youth Service Corps members and interventions targeting pensioners’ welfare.
Earlier in Calabar, the First Lady launched the South-South phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme, with three food banks established in Cross River State to address food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households, including children under six, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The First Lady urged traditional institutions to remain active partners in government’s development efforts, stressing that the success of public policies ultimately depends on their impact at the grassroots.
The engagement comes as Cross River continues to attract Federal Government interventions in areas ranging from food security and education to technology and economic empowerment.
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