By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it is prioritizing empowerment and poverty alleviation to meet the needs of its people.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto stated this during the flag-off of food distribution to vulnerable groups under the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, held at Kasarawa Conference Centre.
He noted that the government has rolled out several palliative measures for vulnerable groups, the physically challenged, and the needy, including the distribution of thousands of bags of rice, maize, millet, and cash assistance.
Through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA) under the Ahmadu Cares Programme, billions of naira have also been disbursed to entrepreneurs across the 23 local government areas to promote growth and job creation.
“These efforts are aimed at cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal,” the governor said. He described the initiative as timely, noting that it would provide relief and a sense of belonging to the less privileged.
In a statement, the Director of Press Affairs to the Deputy Governor, Barbara Muhammad, said Governor Aliyu, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to improving citizens’ welfare, adding that Sokoto is fully behind him.
In her remarks, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, wife of the Vice President, who represented the First Lady, said the scheme was designed to support persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups nationwide. She revealed that food items have already been distributed in 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with more empowerment programmes to be launched this year targeting elderly women and persons with disabilities.
Earlier, Sokoto First Lady, Dr Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, said the state government provided additional grains for distribution, including 1,500 bags of maize and millet (25kg each), 1,200 bags of rice, and ₦10,000 cash assistance per beneficiary.
She commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative, noting that they have brought succour to many households.
