Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Renewed Hope Baby Support (RHBS) programme introduced by the North East Development Commission will help address identity, healthcare and long-term development challenges affecting Nigerian children.
Shettima described the initiative as strategic and in line with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Protection.
The Vice President spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a meeting with the management of the NEDC led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Goni Alkali.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima commended the NEDC for taking practical steps to support the President’s social protection agenda.
He said the programme was designed to ensure every Nigerian child has access to structured identity registration, healthcare participation and long-term financial opportunities.
“As you are aware, Mr President has declared 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Protection, with clear directives for implementation across all levels of government. I commend the NEDC for taking proactive steps to translate this vision into concrete action,” Shettima said.
The Vice President noted that the initiative aligns with the North East Stabilisation and Development Masterplan, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education and peaceful society development.
He also called for collaboration between the NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other government agencies to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Shettima described the RHBS programme as a strategic intervention aimed at cushioning the impact of ongoing economic reforms, especially on women and children in the Northeast.
He added that the programme would strengthen the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the region.
The Vice President further disclosed that the Presidency would unveil details of the implementation and rollout strategy for the programme on May 27 during the Children’s Day celebration.
Speaking earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development and NEDC, Dr Mariam Masha, said the RHBS initiative was conceived as a national human capital development programme.
She explained that Nigeria records about 7.6 million births yearly, but less than half are officially registered within the first year, leaving many children outside the national identity system.
According to her, the programme is designed to connect children from birth to identity registration, healthcare services and long-term development opportunities.
Masha stressed that the initiative should be seen as a national development framework rather than a regular welfare programme, adding that proper implementation would improve identity inclusion, healthcare participation and human capital development across the country.
