In a significant move to bolster healthcare access in rural Nigeria, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated two state-of-the-art mobile clinics to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to strengthen its rural health programme. The mobile clinics were handed over today at a ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Customs Service in Maitama, Abuja, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Health Support Programme.
Additionally, the Taraba State Government received one of the mobile clinics, further expanding access to medical care in underserved areas.
Senator Tinubu, while presenting the clinics, lauded the contributions of successive batches of Corps Members in advancing the NYSC’s health initiatives, especially through the Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers (HIRD). She emphasized that her visit to Taraba State last year highlighted the urgent need for enhanced healthcare delivery, prompting the donation of one mobile clinic to complement the state’s ongoing efforts.
In her speech, the First Lady highlighted the importance of providing healthcare access to all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, political, or social backgrounds. She described the mobile clinics as “love on wheels,” intended to improve healthcare delivery in remote areas by reducing response times and offering flexible, reliable services, particularly in emergencies.
Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the Director-General of the NYSC, praised the First Lady’s gesture, calling it a timely intervention that would significantly enhance the HIRD programme. He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Initiative’s core philosophy aligns with the NYSC’s mission to deliver free healthcare services to underserved communities. Since the launch of HIRD in 2014, over four million Nigerians have benefitted from free medical services, with over 6,300 Corps medical personnel deployed in 2025 alone to rural areas.
The Director-General noted that the addition of the two mobile clinics would allow the NYSC to expand its reach, treating tens of thousands more individuals across Nigeria, thereby significantly improving healthcare access.
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, expressed his gratitude to Senator Tinubu for the donation and assured that the mobile clinic would be effectively utilized to improve the state’s healthcare services.
The donation marks a major step in the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare access in Nigeria’s rural areas and reflects the First Lady’s commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people.
