Sen. Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with an NGO, Beautiful Gate Handicap People Centre, Jos, has donated 100 wheelchairs to people with special needs in Kebbi State.
The programme was originally initiated by a teacher at Dr Amina College, Birnin Kebbi, Malama Halima Danjuma-Fatauchi.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, the initiator said she was emotionally inspired to start the move to render her little contribution to those who had no leg to work.
She said it all started when she saw the challenges faced by people with special needs using their hands to work under hot weather, “I broke into tears and promised that from my salary, I will use part of it to secure wheelchairs even if it’s five.
“I did my research, I found this NGO on Facebook, Beautiful Gate Handicap People Centre in Jos and I dropped my number there. When I communicated with them they told me that each wheelchair costs N160,000.
“But since you have the interest and motivation of making donation, you can do so and we can send it to you in Kebbi. I was also searching to have someone that will help me increase the number to 20.
“Then I communicated to the Special Adviser to the Minister, Budget and Economic Planning, Bashar Aliyu Buhari, who influenced the minister to boost my effort and increased it to 50.”
She added that on seeing her efforts, the initiator of Beautiful Gate Handicap People Centre willingly donated another 50 wheelchairs with crutches.
In his speech, the Chairman of Bagudu Boys, Sadiq Nura appreciated the efforts of the minister in supporting the people of Kebbi, especially those living with disabilities.
He urged the people of Kebbi, particularly the well-to-do and politicians to emulate the good gesture of Sen. Atiku Bagudu.
Sandra Yilgwan, the Public Relations Officer, Beautiful Gate Handicap People Centre, said the NGO spent over 20 years assisting the less privileged.
“We have been in existence since 1999 and we have distributed over 40,000 wheelchairs to people living with disabilities, we don’t segregate, over 90 per cent of our beneficiaries are Muslims,” she said.
Yilgwan said the founder of the foundation was also a polio survivor, saying, “that’s why he is willingly wholeheartedly assisting people living with disabilities.”
A cross section of beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed appreciation to the donors and prayed to God Almighty to reward them abundantly.
