UYO
To constantly cushion economic burden on elderly persons in Akwa Ibom State, about 600 senior citizens on Friday, had reasons to smile as they received the sum of N50,000 each and medicare, being part of the second edition of ARISE Initiative for The Elderly, a programme set up by the state government to cater for aged people in the state.
Speaking at the second edition of the programme tagged: ‘Celebrating Our Parents’, held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo, wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, congratulated the latest beneficiaries of the scheme and assured of government’s continuous support.
The Akwa Ibom first lady, who was represented at the event by commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, urged the beneficiaries to endeavour to be useful and impactful in the society despite their old age.
She cautioned persons who are in the habit of labelling elderly people with bad names to desist from it as the state government will show its wrath to anyone who is found guilty of such acts.
“When you retire from service or when your bones are weak and you can no longer work, it doesn’t mean that you are no longer useful to the society. You are still useful even though you are old. This government encourages that in your little corners, you should affect lives.
“This government seriously frowns at people who label aged people with all sorts of bad names. The government will ensure that the elderly in this state are accorded the respect that they deserve,” she said.
Eno said that more elderly persons across the state will benefit from the programme which she described as a continuous one as well as the dividend of the ARISE Agenda.
The coordinator of the programme, Mrs Mercy Eka, explained that the initiative is tailored towards meeting the needs of the lowest of the low in the society and providing them with monthly stipends, health care services and social support.
Eka, also noted that beyond the stipends, the programme which, she said, is in line with the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), pet project of the Governor’s wife, is also a platform for aged people to socialise, share experiences and wisdom with each other.
She expressed her gratitude to the governor’s wife as well as Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the initiative which, she said, has put smiles on the faces of the aged persons in the state.
Goodwill messages were received from the wife of the secretary to the state government, Dr Inemesit Uwah, the wife of the former military governor, Mrs. Funmi Idongesit Nkanga, the honorary special assistant to the governor on women mobilisation, Dr Ekemini Umoh and the wife of the Uyo Senatorial District political leader, Mrs. Comfort Bob, who all expressed gratitude to the governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno and his wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, for the programme, which they said had accommodated the interest of the senior citizens of the state.
As the beneficiaries began to receive alert notifications in the hall, their excitement was palpable as they paid glowing tributes to the governor and wife for the financial support and medical services which would make their lives more comfortable.
Discussion about this post