Senator pledges N500m support to foundation’s livelihood programmes

The Senator Representing Borno North, Sen. Tahir Monguno, has pledged N500 million support to a foundation offering humanitarian and livelihood support to displaced, poor and vulnerable persons in the North East.

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Monguno said that the N500 million constituency allocation for 2024 would be channelled to support the activities of Amina Dikwa Foundation (ADF).

He made the pledge at the foundation’s 5th Anniversary celebration and unveiling of its 5-year programme, on Saturday in Abuja.

The senator, who also made personal donation to support the foundation, said the vision and mission of ADF aligned with his goal of restoring hopes in displaced persons and victims of insurgency.

He called on well-meaning Nigerian to support the ADF and similar organisations committed to enhancing access to education, health and sanitation, and means of livelihood for the poor in the society.

Also, Deputy Governor of Kebbi, Sen. Umar Tafida, commended the founder of ADF, Dr Amina Dikwa, for her foresight.

Tafida said the foundation had done a lot in other parts of the country to alleviate the suffering of the poor and vulnerable people.

He said Kebbi Government would partner with the organisation to offer assistance to the needy in the state.

According to him, educating children on the streets and giving succour to the hungry would go a long way in preventing criminality, violent extremism, and other societal ills.

In her remarks, the founder of ADF, Dr Amina Dikwa, said she was inspired by her upbringing to always give to those in need.

She said the foundation was initially focused on supporting out of school children and orphans in the society.

“We have empowered countless number of children in schools because we know that education is very important and there is the need for children to have access to quality education. I see myself in the next five years having a school and giving more children opportunities to succeed in life and to be educated. I also I see myself having the center to train women, less privileged women, in order for them to be self reliant to take care of their families and their children.”

Dikwa called on government at all levels and other stakeholders to step up support for organisations like ADF to help less privileged people in the society.

“I am appealing to the government, stakeholders and other big charitable initiatives to come together to support small NGOs like ours. This is to enable us to reach those at the grassroots that don’t have access to education, clean water and livelihoods.”

The Chairman of the ADF Board of Trustees, Dr Muhammed Abubakar, said the organisation came into being in 2018 and had been helping to alleviate the plight of the downtrodden especially in the North East.

Abubakar said it had intervened in the areas of education, water, health and hygiene as well as livelihood support, including distribution of foodstuffs.

He said that ADF took into cognisance gaps that existed in the North East, where state and federal emergency management agencies were unable to interven because of the enormous challenges in the region.

According to him, the event is the celebration of five years of good work and humanitarian activities, and rallying support from stakeholders, government and politicians to enable the ADF to do more.

NAN/Wumi