The First Lady of Nasarawa State, Hajia Silifat Sule, has distributed the sum of two hundred thousand Naira (200,000) each to 250 persons with disabilities through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) as part of efforts to empower them with grants and improve their living conditions.
While distributing the RHI Empowerment in Lafia, the state capital, she urged beneficiaries to consider the funds as business grants and invest in businesses of their choice.
She said the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, donated the fund to commemorate this year’s World Disability Day.
“A total of nine hundred and fifty people living with disabilities across the thirty-six states will benefit from the programme, amounting to one point nine billion naira.”
Represented by Nasarawa State First Lady, Silifat Abdullahi Sule, Senator Oluremi Tinubu explained that, in each state of the federation, the FCT and the defence and police officers’ wives associations will receive fifty million naira each for distribution to beneficiaries.
According to her, the funds would support small business owners to recapitalise their existing businesses and strengthen their means of livelihood.
She said, in the last two years, her project supported over one hundred thousand women petty traders and small business owners, including people with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu maintained that the programme aligned with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind, especially those whose needs are often overlooked.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Right Disability Commission, Saleh Barde, thanked the first lady for considering people with disabilities and supporting them with grants to improve their businesses.
He also urged the beneficiaries to use the money given to them judiciously to uplift their livelihood and their family.