As part of this year’s World Disability Day activities, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Bola Tinubu, has donated N50 million to support persons living with disabilities in Sokoto State.
She was represented at the event by the wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu.
The First Lady explained that the initiative, carried out under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), aims to help people with disabilities become more self-reliant.
She noted that RHI is empowering 250 people with disabilities in every state, including the FCT, with each beneficiary receiving a grant of N200,000. Overall, 9,500 people across the country will benefit from the N1.9 billion programme.
According to her, RHI has supported over 100,000 women, small traders, and business owners including people with disabilities over the last two years through direct financial assistance.
She added that the programme has also made interventions in agriculture, education, health, and social welfare.
RHI’s social investment programmes have also provided food, financial assistance, and materials to victims of disasters, communal clashes, widows, orphans of fallen heroes, IDPs, and other vulnerable groups across 22 states and the FCT.
The First Lady praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting persons with disabilities in Sokoto. In her remarks, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu announced a donation of N2 million each to seven disability associations in the state to further empower their members.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters, Umar Muhammad Sabon Birni, said the current administration has increased the monthly stipends for persons with disabilities from N6,500 to N10,000. He revealed that 6,679 registered beneficiaries currently receive the allowance, with plans to register more.
He also noted that the Governor has provided 1,000 hand cycles and set up Ramadan feeding centres for persons with disabilities.
He commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his continuous support and urged beneficiaries to support government programmes in return.
In a goodwill message, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by Ubandoman Arkilla, Alhaji Aliyu Hassan, praised the governor for implementing people-focused projects and promised the Sultanate Council’s continued support.
The event also featured a para-soccer match between Governor Aliyu’s team and his wife’s team, with the First Lady’s team winning 2–1.
The Sokoto Para-Soccer Team later presented a trophy they won in a competition involving Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara to the Governor’s wife.
