By Muhammad Amaan
Kano State Government has donated N40 million to 2,000 People With Disabilities (PWDs) to enable them to establish small businesses of their interest.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the gesture was in line with the State Government’s policy toward building the capacity of PWDs to become self-reliant.
Yusuf said that each beneficiary would receive N20,000 to start small scale business.
According to him, the beneficiaries, comprising the blind, deaf and dumb and lepers, amongst others, were selected from across the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He said that the amount, even “though very meager”, could support the beneficiaries to establish small businesses.
The governor further said that inviting the beneficiaries to the Government House to receive the package was to enable the government to deal with all segments of the PWDs, “irrespective of their physical appearance and economic background.”
“In addition to the cash grants, I ordered that you should be given bags of food items. You should be given the food stuffs, even if you have been given before.
“You are so important to us and we will do everything humanly possible to support you. We are aware of your overwhelming support to our government, which was key to our election success,” he said.
Also speaking, Deputy Gov. Abdulsslam Gwarzo urged them to invest the money in any business of their choice.
Gwarzo further called on them to continue to pray for the governor’s victory at the Supreme Court.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, Hajiya A’isha Saji, said: “This is not the first. It is a tip of the iceberg.
“Under the ministry, the State Government had empowered vulnerable and downtrodden. I thank the governor for his commitment to support youths, women and the vulnerable in the state.
“We will come up with more empowerment schemes to better your life,” she told the large crowd of the PDWs.
The commissioner also cautioned the beneficiaries to ensure they invested the money in small scale businesses in order to become self-reliant and end street begging.
