President Bola Tinubu has appointed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State as the Chairman of the newly established National Steering Committee for the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP).
The initiative is part of the administration’s effort to strengthen economic activities, improve livelihoods, and enhance social protection systems across Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards.
According to a statement from the Presidency, the committee is tasked with ensuring the implementation of the Renewed Hope agenda at the grassroots level through effective coordination between federal and state governments. Governor AbdulRazaq, who also serves as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, is expected to provide leadership in driving community-based development under the programme.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has been named Vice Chairman of the committee. Other members include governors representing the six geopolitical zones: Mai Mala Buni of Yobe (North-East), Douye Diri of Bayelsa (South-South), Dapo Abiodun of Ogun (South-West), Peter Mbah of Enugu (South-East), Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina (North-West), and Hyacinth Alia of Benue (North-Central).
The committee held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat in Abuja, where members discussed strategies for implementing community empowerment programmes in every ward. The meeting emphasized collaboration among states, local councils, and federal agencies to ensure sustainability and accountability.
Speaking at the event, AbdulRazaq assured that the initiative would deliver meaningful change at the grassroots. “This programme is designed to touch lives directly, foster inclusion, and ensure that no Nigerian community is left behind,” he said.
The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme aligns with Tinubu’s broader economic reform agenda aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening local governance through people-oriented projects across the country.