The Wife of the Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, on Thursday, dontated cash and food items to vulnerable persons, including the elderly and persons with disabilities in the state.
The elderly persons, numbering 250, were beneficiaries of the programme facilitated through the pet project of the Wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the “Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme.”
The beneficiaries of the programme, with the theme, “Better Days Ahead”, were drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia.
Each beneficiary got a cheque for N100,000, a bag of rice and other food items at the official launch of the programme held at the Office of the Governor’s Wife, Government House, Umuahia.
In a speech delivered through the governor’s wife, Tinubu said that the gesture was meant to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship in the country.
“The scheme is to support 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the states of the federation and FCT and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives’ Association.
“The amount to be disbursed is N950 million as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative and each state would receive N25 million.
“We are committed to ensuring that each state receives this gesture without discrimination,” Tinubu said.
She further said that the scheme was “focused on creating a more inclusive and compassionate society, where steadfast commitment would be showed to the wellbeing of the elderly”.
She urged the senior citizens to embrace life to the fullest, prioritise their health, nurture their mind and strengthen their bond with their loved ones.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Blessing Felix, commended the wives of the president and governor for the kind initiative.
Felix, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Ogechi Oguama, described the programme as an indication that better days were ahead in the state.
She further said that the ministry would support the programme to make life better for the elderly through creating cooperative societies for aged persons to improve their economic situation.
The Wife of the Transition Committee Chairmen of Aba North LGA, Mrs Ifenyinwa Udeagbala, described the programme as a welcome development, saying that it would enhance grassroots development.
Udeagbala gave assurance that under the present administration in Abia, anything meant for the people would definitely get to them.
The Co-Chair of Abia State Consultative Forum for the Elderly, Mr Oti Nwaka, described the programme as a sign of new hope for the elderly in Abia.
“We are aligning with this programme by forming cooperative societies to ensure that there will be no indigent elderly in the state,” Nwaka said.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs Uloma Ubani,
thanked the wives of the president and governor for their support to the elderly in society.
Ubani said that the scheme had brought succour to the aged persons in the state and prayed God to bless the organisers.
In a related development, Otti also presented food items and cash gifts to persons with disabilities in the state and assured them of her commitment to promoting their cause.
She said that Abia Government would continue to accord top priority to the welfare and wellbeing of persons with disabilities in the state.
Responding, Miss Ngozi Nwaguru, the Woman Leader of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Abia, thanked the governor’s wife for identifying with vulnerable persons in the state.
Nwaguru expressed delight that the programme had further strengthened their confidence and given them a sense of belonging.