Otti Hails Tinubu’s Support For Vulnerable Nigerians

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has lauded the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu for her compassion and unwavering support for vulnerable Nigerians in the face of economic challenges in the country.

Otti said this at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia on Friday,  at  the launching of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)  Food Outreach in Abia.

The governor said leadership is a call to empathy, and an opportunity to respond with kindness to the plight of the poor.

He noted his administration’s commitment to social welfare, stressing that one of his first actions in office was the creation of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection.

He said the ministry collaborates with international and local partners to implement programmes which supported women, youths, and vulnerable groups in Abia.

“In several communities, women cooperative groups have been set up to access grants at zero to low interest rate facilities to establish businesses along the agricultural value chains.

“Our conviction is that many of the individuals living in economic vulnerabilities can still add value to our GDP by engaging in productive ventures,”  Otti said.

The governor expressed support for the RHI, emphasising that while palliative programmes remained valuable, long-term solutions are essential.

He stressed the need for a “realistic path” to overcome poverty, joblessness, and economic hardship.

“The goal at all times should be to keep reducing the number of persons living below the poverty line by offering the population a path to economic sustainability and ultimately, independence.”

In her speech, the President’s wife said she is happy to handover food commodities to vulnerable groups in Abia through the governor’s wife, Mrs Priscilla Otti for onward distribution.

Tinubu, represented by  wife of the Vice President, Mrs Nana Shettima said the initiative was meant to provide food for vulnerable families and had distributed food items to 11 states.

She thanked the BUA Group and another anonymous company for donating food items monthly to the initiative for onward distribution to vulnerable groups.

She said that Enugu and Kaduna states  are the next on the list for the food outreach scheme.

“Under our economic empowerment, we will be giving N200,000 grant to 250 persons with disabilities to recapitalise their existing small businesses in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Under our education programme, we will be introducing ‘Flow with Confidence’, through which we will distribute 10,000 packs, a year’s supply of sanitary pads to each of our young girls, particularly those in rural communities in each state.

“This will encourage them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle.”

She implored beneficiaries not to sell the food items as they were intended to support their families.

She thanked the state’s RHI Coordinator, Mrs Priscilla Otti, for her support toward the RHI activities.

The governor’s wife in her speech, said the presence of the president’s wife strengthened their shared mission to uplift and empower the most vulnerable.

She said  the RHI in Abia has made significant impact in areas like education, health, empowerment and nutrition, hence its acceptance.

She said the RHI donated Semolina and Noodles to Abia but added that Abia government would add 3000 bags of 10kg rice to ensure more households got the palliatives.

She said the distribution exercise would continue in the coming weeks to ensure that most households are reached.(