Finding Joy in Old Age: The Renewed Hope Intervention By Raymond Enoch

Reaching old age should ideally mark a season of fulfilment—a time for rest, dignity, basic comfort, and the enjoyment of life’s hard-earned rewards. For many senior citizens, however, this expectation6 remains far from reality. In Nigeria, as in many parts of the world, the elderly face daunting challenges ranging from limited access to affordable and specialised healthcare to irregular pension payments, inadequate financial support, poor housing conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional neglect.

These gaps underscore the urgent need for stronger social support systems, improved healthcare infrastructure, and policies that safeguard the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of elderly Nigerians. Yet, amid these challenges, a ray of hope has emerged through an organisation committed to restoring dignity and providing meaningful support to vulnerable senior citizens across the country.

That intervention is the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), through its Elderly Support Scheme, a programme designed to uplift elderly Nigerians by offering financial assistance, healthcare support, and renewed social inclusion.

The Renewed Hope Initiative is the flagship social intervention programme of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, with a strategic focus on women, youth, children, and the elderly. Rooted in family values, dignity, and opportunity, the initiative continues to deliver tangible and lasting impact across communities nationwide.

Since 2023, the RHI has made it a tradition to celebrate elderly citizens every December in recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to nation-building. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the initiative held the third edition of the Elderly Support Scheme in Benue State, at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, under the theme “Finding Joy in Old Age.”

The programme aligns with the broader social investment agenda of the Federal Government, aimed at promoting comfort, inclusion, and dignity for senior citizens.

During the Benue State edition, 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 years and above benefited from the scheme. Significantly, the same number of beneficiaries received similar support in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Each beneficiary received ₦200,000, while Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia further complemented the intervention by providing a bag of rice to each beneficiary through the State Emergency5 Management Agency (SEMA). A free medical outreach was also conducted, offering health screenings, consultations, and basic medical support—underscoring the initiative’s holistic approach to addressing both financial and health needs of the elderly.

Speaking at the event, Benue State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Hon. Scholastica Ben-Sor, described the programme as a heartfelt commitment by the First Lady to honour senior citizens who have made invaluable contributions to the nation.

She revealed that since its inception in 2023, the initiative has reached 9,500 elderly beneficiaries nationwide, each receiving ₦200,000, amounting to a total disbursement of ₦1.9 billion.

In a message to the beneficiaries, the First Lady emphasised the moral responsibility of society to care for the elderly, especially during the festive season.

> “As we approach the festive season, it is our moral duty—and indeed our joy—to ensure that our elderly live their twilight years in comfort, good health, and dignity,” she stated.

According to Hon. Ben-Sor, the scheme aims to keep senior citizens active, purposeful, and socially engaged, enabling them to embrace joy in old age.

She stressed the importance of valuing the elderly, noting that life is transient and unpredictable.

> “What you are today is not forever. Life may take you through curves you never imagined. The least person you see today may be the person you will look up to tomorrow,” she said, urging society to treat elderly citizens with respect, compassion, and dignity.

Hon. Ben-Sor also commended Governor Alia, describing him as a leader of integrity, sacrifice, and uncommon commitment to service, whose governance continues to positively impact families and communities across Benue State.

Although the governor was unavoidably absent, she disclosed that he personally directed the distribution of rice to beneficiaries and facilitated the free medical outreach as part of the programme.

Goodwill messages were delivered by several dignitaries, including a representative of the wife of the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Hon. Mrs. Christy Ode, who applauded the First Lady for sustaining the initiative and praised Governor Alia for his visible developmental strides. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Teresa Odachi Ikwe, represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Hon. Ifa Celestine, commended the transparency of the Renewed Hope Initiative and advised beneficiaries to utilise the funds judiciously to improve their standard of living.

Similarly, the Benue State Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Mrs. Helen Agaigbe, expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her compassion and unwavering support for vulnerable members of society.

Through interventions such as the Elderly Support Scheme, the Renewed Hope Initiative continues to reaffirm a simple yet powerful truth: that ageing with dignity is not a privilege, but a right—and that joy in old age is achievable when society chooses compassion, inclusion, and care.