The First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday marked this year’s World Disability Day with the disbursement of N64m in grants to persons living with disabilities across the state.
According to a Thursday statement signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, the Mrs Tinubu was represented at the event by the wife of the state governor, Fatima Aliyu.
The statement noted that the First Lady announced the disbursement of N50m to beneficiaries in Sokoto as part of the broader Renewed Hope Initiative intervention being implemented across the 36 states and the FCT.
According to the statement, the First Lady explained that the programme is designed to create long-term economic independence for Nigerians with disabilities.
She said the RHI is empowering 250 persons with disabilities in each state, with each beneficiary receiving N200,000, bringing the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500 under the N1.9bn intervention.
“It is worth noting that over the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported over 100,000 women, petty traders, and small business owners, including persons living with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses,” the statement quoted her as saying.
The First Lady also stressed that the initiative was not limited to financial empowerment.
“Our commitment to improving lives has also been demonstrated through various interventions in agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social welfare,” the statement added.
She was further quoted as highlighting RHI’s support for victims of conflict and vulnerable families.
The statement said she noted that the programme has provided food assistance to 22 states and the FCT, including internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
She commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for what she described as consistent support for persons with disabilities in Sokoto State.
The statement added that during her remarks, the governor’s wife announced an additional N2m each to seven disability associations in the state to strengthen their existing empowerment schemes.
Providing further updates, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters, Umar Muhammad Sabon Birni, disclosed that the present administration had restored and increased monthly stipends for persons with disabilities from N6,500 to N10,000.
He stated that 6,679 registered beneficiaries are currently receiving the allowance, while efforts are ongoing to register more eligible persons.
“The Ahmed Aliyu-led administration has also provided Ramadan feeding centres for persons with disabilities to break their fast during the holy month,” he said.
He added that the governor recently fulfilled his pledge of providing 1,000 hand-cycles to persons with disabilities across the state, describing the gesture as a major boost to mobility and independence for the beneficiaries.
He also commended the governor for “his love, support, and care for persons living with disabilities,” urging beneficiaries to support the administration’s programmes.
In a goodwill message, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar applauded Governor Aliyu for what the statement described as people-oriented projects being executed across the state. Represented by Ubandoman Arkilla, Alhaji Aliyu Hassan, the Sultan pledged the Sultanate Council’s continued support for the government.
The event featured a para-soccer match between the governor’s team and that of his wife, during which the First Lady’s team defeated the governor’s team 2–1.
According to the statement, the Sokoto Para-Soccer Team also presented a trophy to the governor’s wife, which they won in a competition involving teams from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
