Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for unveiling the Renewed Hope Baby Support (RHBS) programme, describing it as a strategic national initiative designed to strengthen child welfare, social protection, and human capital development across Nigeria.
The Vice President gave the commendation while receiving the management team of the North East Development Commission, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohammed Goni Alkali, during the formal presentation of the RHBS programme execution framework.
The initiative, introduced by the NEDC, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Protection, with a focus on improving the lives of Nigerian children through structured support systems.
Speaking during the meeting, Shettima praised the Commission for translating the Federal Government’s vision into actionable programmes capable of delivering long-term benefits to families and vulnerable communities.
According to the Vice President, the Renewed Hope Baby Support programme represents a critical investment in Nigeria’s future, especially in areas of identity management, healthcare inclusion, and economic empowerment for children.
He noted that the programme would help ensure that every Nigerian child has access to proper identity documentation, healthcare participation, and sustainable financial opportunities from an early stage.
“The RHBS is a very timely and strategic initiative. It sits squarely within the North East Stabilization and Development Masterplan, aligning perfectly with its three critical pillars: peaceful society, healthy citizens, and an educated populace,” the Vice President stated.
Shettima further emphasized that strengthening family support systems and investing in children remain essential components of national development, social stability, and economic growth.
The Vice President also applauded the proactive leadership of the NEDC in advancing programmes that directly support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the North-East region which continues to recover from years of insurgency and humanitarian challenges.
The RHBS programme is expected to serve as a major social intervention platform targeted at enhancing child development, expanding healthcare access, and promoting inclusive social protection policies nationwide.
Observers believe the initiative could significantly improve early childhood welfare indicators while also contributing to national development goals tied to education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
Under the framework presented to the Vice President, the programme is designed to build a stronger support structure for Nigerian families through coordinated interventions and long-term development planning.
The North East Development Commission has continued to implement various recovery and development initiatives aimed at rebuilding communities affected by conflict while promoting sustainable growth and social inclusion across the region.
The Renewed Hope Baby Support programme is expected to further reinforce those efforts by prioritizing child-centered policies and strengthening the nation’s human capital development strategy.