By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
In line with the efforts to alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, the Kebbi State Government has further extended its relief package to wives of security officers and female traders in the state.
The support was presented by the office of the First lady at the weekend at the Presidential Banquet Hall in Birnin Kebbi in the presence of wives of security chiefs of Kebbi.
Addressing the beneficiaries, First Lady of Kebbi State, Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, represented by the Executive Secretary, Secondary Schools Management Board, Hajia Nana Asmau Alkali, called on the beneficiaries to utilize the money in any forms of trade that will ease their day to day financial needs.
She also commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for supporting women's empowerment in various ways, citing her own appointment as Executive Secretary, a position never occupied by a woman in previous administrations as a typical example of the Government’s readiness to uplift the womenfolk in the state.
Hajiya Asmau called on women to give careful attention to their children as she also encouraged them to pray for the success of the leaders in their quest to achieve lasting peace and security of the nation. She reaffirmed the State Government's commitment to the socio-economic well-being of the people.
Earlier in a brief welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Empowerment, Hajiya Memuna Jega, announced that the disbursement had taken place in different local governments with groups of underprivileged people. She highlighted the need to support the wives of members of our security agencies involved in petty trading.
Giving a brief awareness on COVID-19, Mallam Nasir Karofi of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Kebbi state, said that the pandemic has affected people both psychologically and financially. He said it is in line with the effort to cushion these effects that the government is holding the program. He added that the state's First Lady is making vigorous efforts to ensure that women are carried along in every aspect.
Karofi spoke on his experiences from the previous disbursements and how it has visibly touched the lives of many. He said that the ongoing disbursement is simply to remind them that the Government and the First Lady of the state are concerned about the people.
While speaking on the vaccine, Karofi noted that all those who have taken it are still faring well. He called on the women to take up the opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it presents itself, especially as the third wave and dangerous variants erupt around the country. He said the vaccine greatly reduces the severity of the disease.
In separate remarks, Hajiya Khadija Idris Mohammad, Wife of the Comptroller of Nigeria Correction Service, Mrs. Saadatu Sanusi representing the wife of the commissioner of Police among others, thanked the state government for the support and advised the women to make judicious use of the money. She added that the financial support of N10,000 each to the women will promote their petty trading businesses.
The high point of the program was the presentation of the ten thousand naira cash support to 200 beneficiaries. NNL.