Shockwaves in Bayelsa as 250 Persons With Disabilities Receive ₦200,000 Each — World Disability Day Turns Historic Under Remi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Drive
By Passman Akpos
YENAGOA — The Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House erupted in jubilation on Wednesday as 250 Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) received ₦200,000 each, a massive empowerment gesture that has set tongues wagging nationwide.
The groundbreaking disbursement—executed on behalf of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)—has been hailed as one of the most direct, far-reaching financial interventions for PLWDs in recent years.
Representing the First Lady, Pastor Agnes Oloye, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, delivered the cash support in what many beneficiaries described as “a life-changing moment.”
Speaking with visible emotion, the Bayelsa First Lady and State RHI Coordinator, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri, declared:
> “On behalf of the beneficiaries, I will always applaud the efforts of the mother of the nation towards ensuring poverty reduction. This Renewed Hope initiative is not just cash—it is dignity restored, futures rebuilt, and confidence renewed.”
The empowerment falls under the RHI Economic Empowerment Programme, strategically launched in commemoration of World Disability Day 2025, themed:
“Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
But the real shocker was the scale—this programme is not limited to Bayelsa. According to RHI, the financial support targets 250 PLWDs across all 36 states, the FCT, and even disabled military and police veterans.
This sweeping intervention has ignited a wave of reactions across the country, with many Nigerians praising the initiative as a bold and unprecedented show of commitment to inclusivity.
A Lifeline for Small Businesses
RHI officials explained that the ₦200,000 grants are purpose-built to boost micro-enterprises run by PLWDs—many of whom struggle to access capital or government support.
The initiative, they said, is designed to:
Spark economic growth
Strengthen small businesses
Create sustainable livelihoods
Provide a path out of poverty for thousands of disabled Nigerians
Bayelsa Beneficiaries Celebrate
Inside the Banquet Hall, the atmosphere was electric. Some beneficiaries broke into tears, others knelt in gratitude, while many chanted prayers for the First Lady and the RHI leadership.
One beneficiary exclaimed:
“This is the first time anyone has remembered us at this scale. Today, we feel seen. We feel human again.”
A Nation Watching
Across political and civic circles, the conversation is buzzing: Could this be the beginning of a new era of disability-inclusive governance in Nigeria?
For the moment, one thing is certain—World Disability Day 2025 will be remembered in Bayelsa not for speeches, but for action.
