By: John Bassey, Zamfara.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off an economic empowerment programme for persons with Disabilities, PWD, to commemorate the World International Day for disability Persons in Zamfara state.
The ceremony, which took place at the Multipurpose Hall of JB Secretariat in Gusau, featured several displays from the deaf, dumb, blind, and lame teams showing forth their joy of acceptance of the benevolence of Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Represented by the wife of Governor Dauda Lawal and the First Lady of Zamfara state, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed great delight to launch the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities, under RHI Social Investment Programme.
According to Her Excellency, she noted that the event held special significance as it coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and was being launched simultaneously across the 36 States of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
The First Lady maintained that Nigeria grows stronger when every individual is empowered to contribute meaningfully. As Helen Keller, the renowned American disability rights advocate, once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
These words remind us that a truly inclusive society is built when we stand together, creating opportunities that empower everyone to contribute their unique gifts to our collective progress.
Today, the Renewed Hope Initiative will provide the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) Business Recapitalization Grants to two hundred and fifty (250) Persons with Disabilities in each State and the Federal Capital Territory to support small business owners to recapitalize their existing businesses and strengthen their means of livelihood.
Also, each state of the federation, the FCT, and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association will each receive fifty million naira (N50,000,000), to be distributed to the beneficiaries in their domain.
In total, nine thousand, five hundred (9,500) Persons with Disabilities across Nigeria will benefit from this programme, amounting to One Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira (N1,900,000,000).
This programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind, especially those whose needs are often overlooked.
It is worth noting that, over the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported over one hundred thousand (100,000) women petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses.
Our commitment to improving lives has also been demonstrated through various interventions in Agriculture, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Social Welfare aimed at improving the well-being of families across our country.
Our Social Investment Programmes have provided financial and material support to victims of floods, communal clashes, and disasters, as well as to the elderly, widows, and orphans of our fallen heroes.
Through the RHI Monthly Food Outreach Scheme, we have so far delivered food items to 22 States and the FCT. We also provide food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities. We remain committed to doing even more to uplift lives and bring hope to those in need.
In recognition of our shared responsibility to promote inclusion, the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative has resolved to make the Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities an annual event, to be held on December 3rd, in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
To all our beneficiaries, I encourage you to make good use of this opportunity. Let it be a seed that grows into something greater, a business that sustains you and your family.
Her Excellency commended the Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Dr. Dauda Lawal, and his wife, Her Excellency Huriyya Dauda Lawal, for all their support to the Renewed Hope initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Those present to witness and benefit from the empowerment programme were the Executive Chairman, Zamfara state persons with disability Board, Alhaji Usman Ahmad Nahuce, Sarkin Guragu, Malam Shehu Umar, and Women’s Chairperson for PWD, Malama Binta Namadi.
