The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of foodstuffs to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Vulnerable persons in Edo State.
Patricia Imade, the Edo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Food and Security, flagged off the distribution on Monday at the Army Salvation, Benin Rehabilitation Centre.
Imade, who distributed over 500 bags of processed garri to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), the umbrella body of PWDs, said the empowerment was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
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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 Mr President to reach out to the less privileged and the people of Nigeria. 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 of, 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.
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So we are reaching out to all of them”, she said.
While disclosing that there are over 2000 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.
