"Minister Bagudu Empowers Persons with Disability with 100 Wheelchairs in Kebbi"

By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi 

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, has donated 100 wheelchairs to 100 persons with disability in Kebbi State. The wheelchairs were presented to the recipients at the Haliru Abdu Multi-purpose Stadium, Birnin Kebbi, with the strict condition that they should not be sold.

The donation is a tripartite venture with contributions from the initiator of the programme, Halima Danjuma Fatauci, and the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People's Centre, Jos. Halima Fatauci said the love to assist persons with disability arose from what she saw of a little boy in Argungu that moved her to tears.

"I saw this pitiable lad crawling on both knees and palms in the hot sun because of his inability to walk, being a cripple," she said. "Instantly, I developed the spirit of compassion and made contact with the non-governmental organization, Beautiful Gate in Jos, which offered assistance. Similarly, the support group of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, on his approval, provided a large contribution which made it possible to procure 100 wheelchairs and offset their transportation cost from Jos to Birnin Kebbi."

The Leader of the Bagudu Support Group, Abubakar Sadiq, announced that the programme would be expanded to procure additional wheelchairs to bring succour to persons unable to walk for comfortability in movement. "We thank the Minister for improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people in Kebbi State," he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Kebbi Commission for People Living with Disability, Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, commended the donors for their kind gesture, urging disabled persons throughout the state to engage in gainful ventures away from street begging.

"Our gratitude goes to Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris, for creating a Commission by Law, to cater for people with disability to give them a sense of belonging as productive members of the society," Abdullahi said.

The donation is seen as a significant step towards empowering persons with disability in Kebbi State and promoting their socioeconomic inclusion.