In a show of solidarity and support, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, provided financial grants to persons living with disabilities in Sokoto State as part of this year’s World Disability Day commemoration. Though Mrs Tinubu was not physically present, her representation at the event by the wife of the state governor, Fatima Aliyu, did not dampen the significance of the gesture. The disbursement—totalling ₦64 million for the state—reflects a broader initiative aimed at uplifting Nigerians living with disabilities.
At the event, Mrs Tinubu’s message emphasised the need for lasting economic independence, not just temporary relief. Under the umbrella of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the support is meant to help persons with disabilities build sustainable livelihoods.
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Scope of the Renewed Hope Initiative
The Sokoto disbursement is a state-level instalment of a nationwide empowerment effort. According to official statements, the RHI is facilitating business recapitalisation grants of ₦200,000 for 250 persons with disabilities in each Nigerian state and the Federal Capital Territory, which brings the total number of beneficiaries to 9,500. Across the nation, this translates to a pool of ₦1.9 billion dedicated to supporting the livelihoods of PWDs.
Mrs Tinubu noted that the initiative is part of broader social investment efforts under RHI that already support traders, small-scale entrepreneurs, and vulnerable citizens such as widows, victims of disaster or conflict, and internally displaced persons. The aim is to ensure inclusive economic growth where no one is left behind.
The First Lady urged recipients to view the grants as “seeds planted”, investments that should grow into stable businesses providing for families and contributing to community development.
Additional Support and Local Government’s Role
Beyond the national intervention, the state government in Sokoto has demonstrated its own commitment to supporting persons with disabilities. At the ceremony, it was announced that an additional sum of ₦2 million would be given to each of the seven disability associations to strengthen their programmes and enhance support systems.
Sokoto’s Special Adviser on Disability Matters, Umar Muhammad Sabon Birni, revealed that the state had also increased the monthly stipend for registered persons with disabilities from ₦6,500 to ₦10,000. Currently, 6,679 beneficiaries receive this allowance, and there are ongoing efforts to enrol more eligible individuals.
In addition, the state government is expanding mobility support: recently it fulfilled a pledge to deliver 1,000 hand-cycles to persons with mobility challenges. The effort is part of a broader strategy to enhance independence and integration for persons with disabilities in Sokoto.
Meaning and Significance: A Step Toward Inclusion
For many recipients, these grants represent more than cash; they are a reaffirmation of dignity, inclusion and potential. In a country where persons with disabilities often face social and economic barriers, this intervention underlines a commitment to ensuring they are seen, supported and empowered.
The delivery of grants and supplementary support in Sokoto exemplifies a growing recognition by both federal and state actors that economic empowerment must include the most vulnerable. By combining national and local efforts, the initiative aims for a holistic improvement: from business capital to mobility aids, regular allowances and community association support.
If properly managed, the intervention can translate into sustainable livelihoods, increased economic activity and more independence for persons with disabilities. As beneficiaries invest wisely and local associations build capacity, the grants could contribute to stronger communities and improved social cohesion.
The Sokoto grants scheme underlines that inclusive development is more than rhetoric when resources reach the hands of those who often live on the margins. If maintained and expanded, such programmes can help reshape the economic landscape for persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
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