The wife of the Sokoto State governor, Maryam Mairo Aminu Tambuwal, has played host to many Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and other vulnerable groups at the state government house.
During the parley, the governor’s wife, who is also the Founder of Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Legacy Initiative, distributed relief items to the vulnerable groups drawn from various camps within the state metropolis.
The items were donated by the MMAWT Legacy Initiative with the support of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.
Each of the beneficiaries received a mattress, blanket, mosquito net, bucket, toiletries, food items, and a cash donation.
The effects of psychological trauma and mental-related issues were also discussed during the occasion.
To this end, handbooks on mental well-being written in various languages were distributed to the displaced persons during the event.
Other items included maternal and feminine guidebooks to help provide solutions in managing stress.
Speaking during the event, Mrs Tambuwal expressed sadness that many of the IDPs suffer from curable diseases.
According to her, the |IDPs are also at high risk of physical attack, sexual assault and abduction, aside from lack of adequate shelter, food and health services.
Mrs Tambuwal added that in the last three years, her foundation had been able to change the lives of many displaced persons in the state by providing various interventions to them.
Speaking on the event, the governor’s wife said inviting the less-privileged members of the society to the government house was aimed at imbuing a sense of belonging in them, saying: “their plight is our collective plight”.
According to her, the state government has not neglected the IDPs and is doing everything possible to ameliorate their sufferings.
The governor’s wife noted that most plights of the IDPs were trauma-related, saying that these challenges contribute largely to their mental health issues.
Mrs Tambuwal also pledged to enroll over 200 displaced children into school this year.
She concluded by admonishing them to make judicious use of the support being provided to them.
Earlier in her welcome address, the state Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, Prof. Aishatu Madawaki, said the governor’s wife was prompted to organise the event in order to ameliorate the difficulties faced by the IDPs, especially in regards to shelter, beddings and feeding.
On his part, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Shu’aibu Gwanda-Gobir, expressed his excitement by the humanitarian gestures of the foundation.
He said that the governor’s wife had redefined the concept of humanitarian interventions in the state.
Mr Gobir, who was also the special guest of honour at the event, donated the sum of N1million to the foundation.
Similarly, the special adviser to the state governor on SEMA, Magaji Albadau, also commended the wife of the governor for her foresight and strategic interventions aimed at bringing succour to the needy.
He also donated the sum of N500,000 to the foundation.
Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Director of MMAWT Legacy Initiative, Dr Balbasatu Ibrahim, highlighted the achievements of the foundation which included special interventions, especially in regards to the plights of the IDPs.
