News Investigators/ The Mokwa Flood Relief Support Group has presented cheques to school proprietors for the sponsorship of 88 pupils being victims of the flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger.
The group also provided cheques to training institutes for skill acquisition for 41 widows and children in tailoring, catering and soap making.
Speaking at the ceremony on Friday in Mokwa, the group’s chairman Ahmed Nasir, a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACGC), said the intervention would alleviate the hardship of survivors of the disaster.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Mokwa flood disaster occurred on May 29 following a heavy rainfall
Mr Nasir explained that many children in the affected areas had dropped out of school, while widows were unable to cater for their families.
“No fewer than 88 pupils will be sponsored from nursery to secondary school level, while 41 widows and children will undergo training in tailoring, catering and soap making,” he said.
He said the group, made up of sons and daughters of Mokwa, with support from friends across the country, had continued to mobilise resources to support the victims.
Mr Nasir also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to redeem the Federal Government’s pledge of N2 billion for resettlement
The Federal government, among other commitments, made through Vice-President, Kashim Shettima during a visit to Mokwa, also pledged to provide a 15MVA transformer, and other commitments.
He commended Gov. Umaru Bago for his prompt intervention, noting that the governor had provided cash support to victims pending completion of resettlement plans.
Also speaking, the Ndalele of Mokwa, Alhaji Muhammadu Shaba-Aliyu, lauded the initiative, saying the support would go a long way in uplifting the livelihood of affected families.
He appealed to the Federal Government to urgently redeem all pledges made to the community.
Similarly, the Head of the Hausa Community in Mokwa, Alhaji Bala Tanko, expressed gratitude to the group.
Suleiman Jibrin, Principal, Hakimi Aliyu Secondary School, who spoke on behalf of the proprietors, assured that the facility would be effectively utilised.
NAN