By Lizzy Carr
Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, has reiterated her commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty among persons with disabilities and vulnerable households through the Al-Muhibbah Foundation empowerment initiative.
Speaking in Yelwa Duguri, Alkaleri Local Government Area, during an empowerment exercise on Tuesday organized in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the First Lady noted that the program aims to promote economic independence among disadvantaged groups, particularly women.
Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Asmau Auwal Jatau, Aisha Bala Mohammed said the empowerment program is designed to uplift beneficiaries by providing them with sustainable sources of income and livelihood support.
She commended UNFPA for its continued partnership with the Al-Muhibbah Foundation, which supported the empowerment of 50 persons with disabilities, while the foundation added 70 others — bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 120.
The Coordinator of Al-Muhibbah Foundation, Hajiya Zara’u Baba, explained that the beneficiaries were trained in four key skills: cosmetology, beans cake (akara) production, soya beans cake making, and groundnut oil processing. She added that each participant received a full starter kit to begin their businesses and was advised to make judicious use of the items.
She added that the beneficiaries were chosen from communities within the local government.
UNFPA Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst, Deborah Tabara, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting people in hard-to-reach communities, while UNFPA Disability, Diversity, and Inclusion Analyst, Olawummi Laolu Akande, emphasized the importance of inclusive empowerment programs.
In his remarks, the Village Head of Yelwa Duguri, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba, represented by Ibrahim Sarkin Yaki, commended both the Foundation and UNFPA for extending their support to underserved members of his community.
Other dignitaries present, including the Executive Secretary of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Mrs. Brisca Jerome; Director-General of SDGs, Mrs. Lydia Shehu; and Special Assistant on Youth and Women, Maijidda Hassan Musa, urged beneficiaries not to sell the empowerment items but to use them productively to support their families and improve their livelihoods.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Bauchi First Lady and UNFPA, describing the empowerment as a major step toward achieving financial stability and independence.
