By Elias Abayomi Adagunduro
Oluremi Tinubu
As the Renewed Hope Initiative of the FIRST-LADY of Federal Republic of Nigeria Her Excellency Oluremi Tinubu marks a year anniversary of making impacts across states in Nigeria, among other things, concerns such as source of funding the Initiative, challenges bedeviling it and her reasons for targeting Interventions in five key broad thematic areas at a time were dissected on a show on National Television.
Hon Wahab Alawiye-King SSA to the President on Policy and Strategy, Office of the First Lady, Mrs Maryam Obadina, SSA to the President on Legal Matters, Office of the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, SSA to the President on Media, Office of the First Lady were on Good Morning Nigeria, a breakfast show on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) to address the concerns and to discuss what Nigerians should expect going forward after a year anniversary of RHI.
Recalled that there was a recent uproar in the social media regarding the generous one billion naira donation of the FIRST-LADY to her alma mater Obafemi Awolowo University. Some views are of the opinion that as a FIRST-LADY, where did she get such a humongous amount of money at this time in our economy. Some are of the views that perhaps the government was funding the Initiative since the FIRST-LADY is only advancing the policy of her husband who is the President.
When asked on the show by Claire Adelabu Abdul Razak alongside her co-host Ademola Adeoye regarding RHI source of funding, below is what Alawiye-King and Kukoyi said regarding the question.
Alawiye said;
“We reached out to well meaning Nigerians, some come on their own volition to come and support us having seen the program we are doing, that has been the major source of our funding.
“Nothing is coming from the government, we don’t have the budget line. It is through circle of friends, that have been supportive and collaborative effort and things like that, those had been the sources of our funding”. He said
Kukoyi corroborated him saying;
“The Renewed Hope Initiative has a board of trustees. They are made up of well meaning Nigerians, men of high Integrity, that is one of our driving forces”. She said
When asked if there are policy recommendations for the drive of the goal of the initiative? Kukoyi said one of the policy recommendations that you might be looking at is partnering with Federal ministries, departments, agencies for Sustainability, continuity, and indeed having the program be formidable.
In her words,
“This structure does not sit in Abuja, it goes to the state and by extension the local government. Everything The First-lady does, she brings in the Zonal coordinator and State coordinator of RHI who are the wives of the State Governors.
“Take this to your state, let us replicate it, let us drive it”. She said
When asked if there is a particular reason driving the choice of these five key areas which include Health, Agriculture, Education, Social Investment, and Empowerment. That the First-lady could have picked some and leave some since they are broader thematic areas.
Kukoyi said they are what makes a man, not only that they are in line with sustainable development goal. That it is also in line with the policy of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Regarding Challenges faced and how they are being addressed, Mariam Obadina said;
“In line with sustainable development drive, there is food insecurity in Nigeria. The FIRST-LADY started by launching every home a garden, to ensure food on every table. She has done the young farmers club, growing the food we eat starts with me Initiative. This is in line to address the challenges Nigerians are faced with”.
What is she doing to pass the gender act now that harassment, violence, rape, drug, trafficking of a girl child is more prevalent.
Kukoyi said;
“She is doing a lot about that. She is unequivocally, she has even taken the fight to the states. There are FIRST-LADY’s at the state level, let them get involved in all of these, and get it out.
“It is not just at the Federal level, because the perpetrators are not at the Federal, they are at the grassroot, so let us go there and that’s what she is doing. She still has colleagues in the Senate, she can make advocacy towards that because she is not there to push it as a legislature”. She said.
RHI intends to celebrate one year of making impacts by training Frontline health workers, across the nation. Midwives will be trained and provided with tools. “These are some of the things they should look out to”. Mariam concluded.