The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima have donated the sum of N250 million to 5,000 female petty traders whose businesses were destroyed by the September 10 flood disaster that devastated Maiduguri and environs.
LEADERSHIP reports that the wives of the president and the vice president had under the “Renewed Hope Initiative” earlier donated N500 million to the Borno State Government for the flood victims before the present donation.
Speaking at the Government House on Thursday in Maiduguri, Senator Tinubu said her delegation which compromised the wives of Delta, Niger and Yobe States governors were in the state on a solidarity visit.
“When we have disasters like what we had here, what we are supposed to build is support, that is the reason we are here today. We sent money through the wife of the Vice President who is the Vice Chairman of ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’ of N500 million, but we know we have to look for more support to complement Governor (Babagana) Zulum’s efforts.
“And while we were at the Shehu’s Palace to sympathise with him over the flood disaster, he mentioned that most of the women into petty trading whose businesses were destroyed by the flood have not been able to go back to their businesses because of the disaster, which we do understand, because the first N500 million we sent was for the government, for the Governor to have flexibility to be able to assist his people.
“Myself and Mrs Shettima put our heads together while on our way here to help the women traders because when women are helped, there will be guarantee of food on the table for the family.
“So we decided that we are going to give another N250 million to cover about 5,000 female petty traders with each to get N50,000. I pray that this disaster will be the last we will experience in Borno and Nigeria at large,” said the First Lady.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum acknowledged the N500 million previously donated by the First Lady and her associates under the platform of ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’, adding that his administration has received tremendous support from the federal government.
He conveyed his deepest appreciation on behalf of the state government to the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government and the First Lady for the support rendered to the people of the state, especially the less privileged.
“Notwithstanding all your contributions, today you came personally to provide further support to the flood disaster victims. I want to once again thank you so much for this gesture, ” Governor Zulum said.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industrial Association in collaboration with the Academy of Pharmacists in Nigeria also donated assorted live-saving drugs including anti biotic, anti-malaria and others to the state government.
The donation was made on behalf of the association by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate at the flagging off for the distribution of relief items to the Maiduguri flood disaster victims by Senator Tinubu at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to the two bodies for donating the drugs to the State.
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