The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday marked the 2025 World Disability Day with the disbursement of ₦64 million in grants to persons living with disabilities in Sokoto State.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa. The First Lady was represented at the event by the wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Fatima Aliyu.
According to the statement, Mrs Tinubu announced the release of ₦50 million to beneficiaries in Sokoto as part of the ongoing Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) being implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The programme is designed to create long-term economic independence for Nigerians with disabilities.
Under the scheme, 250 persons with disabilities are being empowered in each state, with every beneficiary receiving ₦200,000. This brings the total number of beneficiaries nationwide to 9,500 under the ₦1.9 billion intervention.
“It is worth noting that over the past two years, the Renewed Hope Initiative has supported over 100,000 women, petty traders, and small business owners, including persons living with disabilities, with direct financial grants to grow their businesses,” the statement quoted the First Lady as saying.
Mrs Tinubu further explained that the initiative goes beyond financial empowerment, covering agriculture, education, health, economic empowerment, and social welfare. She also highlighted RHI’s support for victims of conflict and vulnerable families through food assistance across 22 states and the FCT.
She commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his consistent support for persons with disabilities in Sokoto State.
In her remarks, the governor’s wife, Fatima Aliyu, announced an additional ₦2 million each for seven disability associations in the state to strengthen their empowerment programmes.
Providing further updates, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters, Umar Muhammad Sabon Birni, revealed that the administration has restored and increased the monthly stipend for persons with disabilities from ₦6,500 to ₦10,000. He noted that 6,679 registered beneficiaries are currently receiving the allowance, with efforts ongoing to register more eligible persons.
He also disclosed that the government has provided Ramadan feeding centres for persons with disabilities and recently fulfilled its pledge of distributing 1,000 hand-cycles to enhance mobility and independence across the state.
In a goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, applauded Governor Aliyu for people-oriented projects being executed in the state. Represented by Ubandoman Arkilla, Alhaji Aliyu Hassan, the Sultan pledged the continued support of the Sultanate Council.
The event concluded with a para-soccer novelty match between the governor’s team and that of his wife, with the First Lady’s team emerging victorious by 2–1. The Sokoto Para-Soccer Team also presented a trophy to the governor’s wife, which they won in a regional competition involving Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
