From Muhammad Gazali Garba
The First Lady of Sokoto State, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, on Saturday flagged off the distribution of cash assistance and food items to women and other vulnerable women groups across the state, reaffirming the commitment of the administration of Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto to improving the welfare and livelihoods of the less privileged.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the First Lady said the intervention was designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households while empowering beneficiaries with startup capital to establish small businesses, become self-reliant and improve their standard of living.
She explained that the programme was one of several humanitarian interventions initiated by her office to support women, widows, persons living with disabilities and other disadvantaged members of society.
According to Hajiya Fatima, since the inception of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration, the welfare of citizens—particularly women, widows, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups—has remained a top priority. She noted that the government had introduced several programmes aimed at improving their living conditions and cushioning the effects of the prevailing economic hardship.
The First Lady recalled that her office had, on several occasions, implemented similar interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to complement efforts aimed at improving the lives of the less privileged in Sokoto State.
She commended Senator
Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing humanitarian programmes that continue to bring relief to the needy, internally displaced persons, persons living with disabilities and the elderly across the country.
Hajiya Fatima urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the cash assistance and food items by investing the support in productive ventures that would improve their livelihoods, strengthen their families and promote self-reliance.
She assured the people that the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu would continue to prioritise the welfare of women, children and other vulnerable groups through sustained empowerment programmes and social intervention initiatives.
The First Lady also appealed to the people of Sokoto State to continue supporting the present administration to enable it to deliver more people-oriented programmes and accelerate the state’s development.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, described the distribution exercise as another demonstration of the Sokoto State Government’s unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups.
She commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the First Lady for their compassion, visionary leadership and unwavering support for humanitarian programmes that continue to transform the lives of the less privileged.
According to the commissioner, the initiative reflects the administration’s determination to ensure that no one is left behind by providing relief, restoring hope and promoting an inclusive and caring society.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Hajiya Maryam Dimas, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, describing the intervention as a reflection of the First Lady’s motherly love, compassion and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people of Sokoto State.
She observed that the distribution of cash assistance and food items came at a critical time when many families were facing economic hardship, adding that the intervention would bring relief, restore hope and renew confidence among widows, orphans, the elderly, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable members of society.
Maryam Dimas said the humanitarian gesture was in line with Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s Nine-Point SMART Agenda, particularly its focus on social protection, poverty reduction and improving the well-being of the people.
She stressed that the initiative demonstrated that good governance is not only about executing infrastructure projects but also about directly impacting lives through people-centred programmes.
The Special Adviser urged beneficiaries to make prudent use of the support provided, assuring them that the government remained committed to protecting their welfare and improving their living conditions.
She expressed profound appreciation to the First Lady for her sustained humanitarian interventions and prayed for Allah’s continued guidance, protection and wisdom for Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu and the entire administration as they continue to serve the people of Sokoto State.
In her goodwill message, the APC North-West Zonal Women Leader, Hajiya Hadiza Alhaji, lauded the First Lady for complementing the efforts of Governor Ahmed Aliyu through impactful humanitarian and women empowerment programmes.
She expressed delight over the successful distribution of cash assistance and food items, describing the initiative as a timely intervention that would provide relief to vulnerable households across the state.
Hajiya Hadiza expressed confidence that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the support to expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and cater for the needs of their families.
She prayed that Almighty Allah would continue to bless and strengthen the First Lady and the Governor as they work tirelessly to improve the welfare of the people of Sokoto State.
The highlight of the event was the official flag-off of the disbursement of cash assistance and the distribution of food items to women and vulnerable groups drawn from the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
