Kaduna State has marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the rollout of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, which provided financial support to 250 beneficiaries across the state.
Representing the First Lady of Kaduna State, Her Excellency Hafsat Uba Sani, the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology delivered the message of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON.
She restated the Federal Government’s commitment to “inclusive development and economic opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.”
Under the scheme, each beneficiary received ₦250,000 to strengthen or recapitalise small businesses.
The initiative forms part of a nationwide programme targeting 9,500 PWDs across the 36 states, the FCT and DEPOWA, with a total investment of ₦1.9 billion.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda places vulnerable groups at the centre of national development,” Mrs Tinubu said, commending Kaduna State for “consistently supporting life-changing social programmes.”
The event was attended by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Yonana Markus Barde; the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Gloria Ibrahim; and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Shamsudeen Abdullahi, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive governance.
The RHI Governing Board also announced that the empowerment programme will now hold annually on December 3 to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
