Renewed Hope Agenda: FG Distributes Foodstuffs to PWDs in Edo

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin                                        

The federal government yesterday distributed foodstuffs to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and vulnerable persons in Edo State.

The Edo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Food and Security, Patricia Imade, who flagged-off the distribution at the Army Salvation, Benin Rehabilitation Centre, said the gesture was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During the distribution, Imade stated that over 500 bags of processed garri were given out to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), the umbrella body of PWDs.

She said the gesture under the Renewed Hope National Accelerated Garri Production Programme would also be extended to the Correctional centres, vulnerable women and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

According to her, this is part of the renewed hope agenda of the president to reach out to the less privileged and the people of Nigeria, adding that this empowerment is a kind of rescue mission for some persons with disabilities and the vulnerable.

“The federal government wants them to know that they are part of the government, and that they are not left out in the scheme of events or activities being done by the federal government. 

“Through the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture here in Edo State, we have decided to distribute this 5kg bag of processed garri to those living with disabilities.

“It is a flag-off; we are reaching out to those living with disabilities, we are reaching out to vulnerable women groups and we are reaching out to correctional centres in Edo State.

“There are so many clusters in JONAPWD such as the visually impaired among others. So, we are reaching out to all of them,” she said.

While disclosing there are over 2000 bags of garri to be distributed to the group, she assured the beneficiaries of more federal government empowerment.

On his part, Jerry Uwangue, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security commended the federal government for the initiative, noting that Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government had keyed into most of the federal government programmes and policies to make life more meaningful and impactful to PWD and vulnerable people in the state.

Uwangue represented by Princewill Idemudia, manager, Edo State Agricultural Development Programme said the state government is always open to any collaborations that can drive the process of empowering people in the state.

“We are always willing to key into any initiative like this that the Federal Government is doing through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“I will tell you today that under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, he is ready and always willing to drive a governance of all-inclusiveness.  As he is taking responsibility for both the able-bodied and the physically challenged,” he added.

Also speaking Ime Akpan, the administrator of Army Salvation, Benin Rehabilitation Centre, Sylvester Oshiovue, representation of JONAPWD and Lucky Imafidon, State Chairman, Association of the Blind commended the federal government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for the gesture.