The El-Amin University, Minna, Niger State has donated bags of rice and cartons of noodles to leprosy patients as part of activities marking the founder’s day of the institution.
The university was founded by the late Former First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Presenting the items onbehalf of the university, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Emmanuel Zwanbin said the late first lady was known to be a caregiver and lover of less privileged and women.
“We are here at the leprosy centre to bring to life the memories of our late mother, Hajiya Maryam Babangida and also to mark the day we began our university in memory of our late mother, Late Maryam Babangida who has lived her life for humanity. And we want to use this visit to Leprosarium as a representation of what she has done for the world.
“In 1990, she was here at the leprosy centre and there has never been a visit like that at the leprosy centre until we came again today. So, we want to keep doing this to remember her brothers and sisters who are going through leprosy, who have been neglected and stigmatized to draw attention of the government and the world that we have a constituency that must be catered for. The leprosy patients are in need of mental and emotional support as well as in terms of clothing, food and housing.
“El-Amin University wants to champion this call but pushing a lot of advocacy about their needs and also partnering with The Leprosy Mission Nigeria in terms of social and scientific research to see how their welfare can be improved including creating awareness about leprosy so that people can be attended to early before their bodies deform, they can be helped and cured”, He explained.
Dr. Zwanbin also explained that special Muslim and Christian prayers would be held at the Minna Central Mosque and Cathedral of the Anglican church, Kateren-Gwari, Minna.
He said the memorial lecture that chronicles the life of the former first lady and her activities is scheduled to hold on November 23, 2024 at the Auditorium of the El-Amin University, Minna among others.
Receiving the donation, Habila Daniel Diko, Community Relations Officer, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria appreciated the El-Amin University for the gesture.
He lamented that the Leprosy victims are the most stigmatized people living with disabilities.
He said there are several leprosy communities across Niger State, and called for sensitisation to end the growing stigmatization against the victims.
He also emphasized on the need for mass sensitisation on the Leprosy disease to reduce the level of stigmatization and discrimination against the people affected.
