By Ojotule Romanus
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Odoodo, has promised 50 percent tuition waiver for People With Disabilities (PWDs) members, studying in higher institutions in the state.
This is in addition to the approval of appointment of two SSAs for the group (kogi Central and Kogi East) and as well as the donation of a brand new Toyota SUV as official vehicle to the Executive Secretary of the PDWs.
The Governor who was responding to the requests made by the State Chairman of the PWDs, Mr. Yakubu Naziru, assured the group that their requests would be presented to the state Executive Council Meeting for consideration and approval.
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Governor Ododo who gave the assurance during the distribution of walking aids to the PWDs, anchored by the Ohunene Empowerment initiative, a pet project of the First Lady of Kogi State, Hajia Safinat Ododo, assured members of the group of his administration’s commitment for an exclusive governance.
No less than five hundreds ( 500) women and persons with disabilities in Kogi State have received wheelchairs, assorted crutches and other mobility aids.
In addition to the mobility support, 360 men of the PWDs also received N100.000, emperwerment grants each, 100 persons received N200,000 each, while 25 persons living with albinism received N50,000 along with their special creams.
Speaking during the event which held at the Muhammad Buhari Civic Center, Lokoja, the governor stated that the PWDs group are very important part of the society and as such, his administration accords them top most priority, just as he warned against discrimination of the group.
“I did not choose to be your chief servant for the luxury of the office, I did because I want to leave the memory of my service in the minds of the good people of Kogi State.
“My administration is not for the elites alone, it is not for the privilege few, it is for the market women, it is for the farmers, it is for the artisans, it is for the people with special needs, it is for every child with a dream.
“We will continue to stand with the people , we will continue to protect the weak, we will continue to lift the forgotten, we will continue to govern with conscience and humility.
“To my dear wife, thank you for reminding us that leadership must always have a human face, leadership is not a trophy but a call to service” the Governor further added.
“Secondly, you made a request that some of our brothers and sisters in our own tertiary institutions should be given consideration, we are going to present that to the Council, but by the power conferred on me, I know the Executive Council of our dear state, once I present it, they will grant that 50 percent waivers in our Tertiary institutions” he equally assured them.
Earlier in her address, First Lady of Kogi State and the founder of the Ohunene Empowerment initiative, Hajia Safinat Usman Odoodo, desclosed that the initiative was deliberately designed to give back to the society most especially to the people with special needs.
According to her, the pet project, aside cash support and mobility aids, prioritized intervention that would address the specific needs of the vulnerable people of the society.
In his remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of the PWDs, Mr. Yakubu Naziru, had among all other things, requested the assistance of the state government which includes; requests for official vehicle, requests for buss for members, requests for tuition waivers for members, requests for additional SSAs for Kogi Central and Kogi East in addition to the already existing SSA for the Kogi West.
Also speaking, the state Coordinator of Ohunene Empowerment initiative, Mrs. Mary Agamalafia, had desclosed that the initiative within it’s first year, has been able to impact positively on the society with the creation of a sustainable employment opportunity and rehabilitation of over 20 people from drugs abuses.
