By Lanre Oloyede
As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is aimed at tackling hunger and poverty by ensuring food security among the vulnerable populations, especially Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has officially flagged off the presidential distribution of food palliatives to beneficiaries across the six Geo-political zones of Nigeria.
The official flag-off ceremony, which took place on Thursday beginning from the North-Central zone, and held at the Karu Local Government Secretariat, Nasarawa State, saw over 500 Persons With Disabilities went home with bags of rice and cash support.
According to Hon. Abba Isa, this unprecedented initiative led by the office Senior Special Assistant to the President on special needs and equal Opportunities was targeted at providing essential support to at least 500 PWD households by ensuring they have access to necessary food supplies.
In his special address, the Senior presidential aide commended the Executive governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, for his passion and dedication to transforming the lives of PWDs in Nasarawa State.
The SSAP recalled that Governor Abdullahi recently established State Commission for Persons With Disabilities and appointed two Special Assistants on disability, stressing that that by so doing, the governor has aligned himself with the policy plan and direction of President Tinubu’s administration hence the choice of Karu, Nasarawa State for the flag off ceremony.
The Senior aide to President Tinubu emphasized that the distribution will be done in the six geo-political zones in the country beginning with the North-Central, North-East, Northwest and from there, the distribution will move to the Southern region.
The SSAP explained that this flag off exercise is quite different and unique because a committee was set up to liaise with local government officials, traditional institutions, religious institutions, civil society and all other security agencies and Organizations of Persons With Disabilities who are responsible for identifying the beneficiaries to make sure it is a seamless exercise that will reach all beneficiaries.
The Presidential aide noted that about 1000 beneficiaries are being targeted in the Northeast because the region has the highest number of Persons With Disabilities as a result of the Boko-haram insurgency, stressing that the number of IDPs and vulnerable groups in the Northeast has skyrocketed as a result of the Boko-haram insurgency.
The SSAP announced the upcoming Beyond Disability Project which he said will be adopt as the Pet Project of the office.
He said the project, which is aimed at empowering PWDs through talents, and skill development, will provide training, mentorship and resources for PWDs to unlock their full potentials and contribute meaningfully to the society.
Furthermore, the SSAP further announced plan to establish a comprehensive database of PWDs in Nigeria. This database, he said, will enable us to better understand the need of PWDs, track progress and make decisions to support their inclusion.
Speaking, the representative of the Permanent Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Gwongson Dung Gyang, praised Hon. Abba Isa for his leadership foresight and direction in alleviating the suffering of PWDs in the country.
Mr. Gyang noted that what the society needed was leadership direction and management and that was what the SSAP is delivering.
He expressed the commitment of the Ministry to continue to support this kind of initiative by the office of the SSA in order to alleviate the suffering of PWDs in Nigeria.
“We will continue to support you with policy implementation drives that is required,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Stanley Onyebuchi, President of Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) representing other cluster heads said: ” The SSA, we are here to appreciate you on behalf of my colleagues for all you have been doing for us in thie disability community since you were appointed November last year.
” If you check the website of the SSA office, you will see that a lot of activities have taken place. Indeed, you are a blessing to our community and we are all praying for you.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank Mr President for appointing you to serve as his SSA and we have seen why the community of PWDs celebrated when you were appointed. We believe more benefits will come through your office to PWDs. This is just the beginning. By the Grace of God we will continue praying for you and with you Nigeria will be a better place for PWDs.”
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Karu Local government council represented by the Hon. Umar Suleiman Guru, commended the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his SSA, Hon. Abba Isa for considering the local government for the flag off while reiterating the commitment of the council to continue to support any initiative aimed at improving the welfare of Persons With Disabilities and the under-priviledged in the society.
“We are going to partner with you to see the success of the program. We are ever ready to support you. Karu is your home, next time if you have any program, come here,” Hon. Guru stated.
In her special remarks, the founder of Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation, Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, ably represented by Mr Ayedero Ayorinde, commended SSAP Hon. Abba Isa for going extra mile to see that people with disabilities are comfortable, adding that this is just the beginning as more interventions are still coming.
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