The Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo, has empowered over 500 women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) with mobility aids and cash grants in Lokoja.
The empowerment programme, organised by the Ohunene Empowerment Initiative, was held on Wednesday at the Muhammadu Buhari Square.
No fewer than 500 beneficiaries received wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility devices, while members of the disability community also benefited from financial support. About 260 beneficiaries received ₦100,000 each, 100 persons got ₦200,000 each, while 25 persons living with albinism received ₦50,000 each, alongside sunscreen creams and other support items.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Ododo said the intervention was aimed at restoring dignity and improving the quality of life of PWDs and other vulnerable groups across the state.
She noted that the mobility aids would enhance movement, while the cash grants would support small businesses and promote self-reliance among beneficiaries.
She urged recipients to use the items and funds judiciously to improve their livelihoods.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Commission for Disability Affairs, Yakubu Abdulhakeem, described the initiative as timely and historic, noting that it reflected a genuine commitment to inclusion and independence for persons with disabilities.
Executives of various PWD groups, in separate goodwill messages, described the intervention as remarkable, saying it had provided renewed hope and opportunities for beneficiaries. They pledged continued support for the Ododo-led administration.
The Coordinator of the Ohunene Empowerment Initiative, Mary Agamalafia, said several individuals and communities had benefited from the foundation’s interventions within one year, stressing that inclusion should be treated as a right, not charity.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who flagged off the distribution, commended the First Lady for using her foundation to uplift PWDs and other vulnerable groups.
The governor also donated a brand new Toyota SUV to the Executive Secretary of the State Disability Commission and promised to write to the State House of Assembly to consider a 50 per cent tuition waiver for PWDs in tertiary institutions in the state.
He cautioned against discrimination against persons with disabilities and called on individuals and organisations to support inclusive initiatives across Kogi State.