No fewer than 250 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nasarawa State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the disbursement exercise on Wednesday in Lafia, the First Lady said that each of the beneficiaries would be given N200,000.
The First Lady represented at the occasion by Hauwa Jugbo, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, said that the gesture was borne out of a steadfast commitment to the well-being of the PWDs.
She explained noted that the gesture was a business recapitalisation grant to support PWDs to open their businesses, boost existing ones and strengthen their means of livelihood.
Tinubu said the same gesture was being replicated in all 36 states and the FCT, as well as the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association.
“Each state of the federation, the FCT, and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association was giving N50 million, amounting to N1.9 billion,” she said.
She further explained that the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Federal Government, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity by ensuring that no Nigerian was left behind.
The First Lady recalled that she had supported over 100,000 women petty traders and small business owners, including PWDs, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses in the last two years.
She announced that the Governing Board of RHI had resolved to make the economic empowerment programme for PWDs an annual event to be held every Dec. 3 , in commemoration of the International Day of PWDs.
In her remarks, Hajiya Silifat Sule, wife of Nasarawa State governor, appreciated the First Lady for the continued support to the people of the state in the last two years.
She explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from the 13 local government areas of the state to ensure that the gesture spread to the nooks and crannies of the state.
She urged the beneficiaries to utilise the money to better their lives and those of their family members.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Salah Barde, Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Disability Rights Commission, expressed gratitude to the First Lady as well as the wife of the Nasarawa State governor for the gesture.
He explained that the commission would ensure beneficiaries used the money to better their lives and not to lavish it on things that would not bring growth and development to them and their families.
