First Lady Tinubu Sweeps Through South South With ₦500 Million Relief, Healthcare And Digital Hope

By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, brought a wave of federal intervention to the South South on Friday, touching lives across Cross River State through a series of humanitarian, health and education initiatives under the Renewed Hope Initiative.

The First Lady was received in Calabar by Governor Bassey Otu and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, alongside wives of governors, RHI coordinators and other dignitaries, for the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South South Zone and the commissioning of several RHI projects.

The highlight of the visit came with the presentation of a ₦500 million cheque from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support victims of the Calabar Mall fire disaster. Senator Tinubu handed the cheque to Governor Otu and his wife, describing it as a reaffirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to standing with Nigerians during difficult times.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady stressed the importance of collective action in supporting vulnerable citizens and building stronger, more resilient communities across the country.

Beyond the formal proceedings, the visit carried moments of genuine warmth. The First Lady was seen interacting closely with a young persons’ chorale group as they performed, and she also held talks with traditional rulers in Cross River State on the role of community leadership in driving development.

At the Edina Primary Healthcare Centre in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area, Senator Tinubu engaged directly with mothers and children, underscoring RHI’s continued focus on maternal, child and community health.

Working alongside Governor Otu, Bishop Otu, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and other government officials, the First Lady formally commissioned several RHI projects and launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South South Zone.

The tour extended to the University of Cross River State, where she commissioned the RHI TETFund ICT Experience Centre, a facility designed to expand access to technology and digital opportunities for young Nigerians in the region.

From disaster relief to healthcare and digital empowerment, Friday’s tour captured a single message in many forms, that renewed hope is steadily reaching communities across Nigeria, one intervention at a time.