Sokoto First Lady Supports 17 Mothers of Triplets with N17m

From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto

The wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, on Saturday presented N17 million, food items and baby-care materials to 17 mothers of triplets across the state.

The gesture, organised under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, was aimed at supporting the families in meeting the nutritional and other essential needs of their newborn children, while easing the financial burden associated with caring for multiple births.

At the presentation ceremony held at Government House, Sokoto, Hajiya Fatima, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Ahmad Shagari, described children as precious gifts from Almighty Allah.

She said the birth of triplets should be regarded as a special blessing rather than a burden, noting that the initiative was designed to provide immediate relief to families facing the challenges associated with caring for multiple newborns.

According to her, each of the 17 beneficiaries received N1 million, three bags of rice, two bags of millet, 30 sets of baby clothes, large-size diapers, a carton of milk and soap.

She added that each mother also received 10 sets of guinea brocade, stressing that the package was intended to provide immediate relief to the affected families.

The First Lady said the state government had consistently prioritised the welfare of women and children, particularly those from less privileged households, through various humanitarian, empowerment and social intervention programmes.

She urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the financial assistance and materials, particularly for the feeding, healthcare and general wellbeing of their triplets.

Hajiya Fatima also appealed to wealthy individuals to support vulnerable members of society, saying collective assistance would promote compassion, solidarity and peaceful coexistence in the state.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Alhaji Aliyu Ladan Isa, said the intervention demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of women, children and vulnerable families.

He commended the First Lady for her humanitarian initiatives and advocacy on issues affecting women, children, orphans and other vulnerable groups in the state.

Ladan Isa also praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for creating an enabling environment for programmes aimed at improving the living conditions and livelihoods of citizens.

He disclosed that the ministry had recently supported 500 women with livelihood interventions, while more than 16,000 people had benefited from N-CARES cash-transfer interventions.

He said the ministry had also continued to provide food support to women during Ramadan, implement skills-acquisition programmes and improve facilities, including the renovation and transformation of the Women Development Centre into a modern facility.

The beneficiaries were drawn from Shagari, Gwadabawa, Tangaza, Yabo, Gada, Wurno, Goronyo, Wamakko and Binji Local Government Areas.