… Vows To Replicate Same In Katsina
By Solomon Umanah
UYO
The Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed profound gratitude to the Katsina State Government for choosing the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Senior Citizens’ Centre as a model for replication in Katsina.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Inibehe Etukudo, who stated this, recently, while receiving a delegation from Katsina State in her office, noted that Akwa Ibom state had continued to attract visitors across the country, owing to its development initiatives, describing the state as a tourism hub.
She said the visit would provide the delegation with an opportunity to understudy the development model of the Centre and gain first-hand information that could guide the establishment of a similar facility in Katsina state.
Etukudo further stated that the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Umo Eno, remains committed to delivering people-centred projects and programmes aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
The women affairs boss particularly highlighted the Senior Citizens’ Centre that was inaugurated by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, saying the facility had received commendation for its structure and interventions, which she explained, were geared toward addressing the welfare needs of elderly persons in Akwa Ibom state.
Etukudo assured the team of the Ministry’s continued collaboration with Katsina State and other states in advancing women’s affairs, social welfare and rural development.
While wishing the team a pleasant stay in Akwa Ibom and a safe return to Katsina state, the Commissioner directed relevant directors in the ministry to accompany the visitors on a tour of the facility.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Prof. Abdulhamad Ahmed, conveyed the goodwill of the Katsina State Government to Governor Umo Eno and commended his administration for its infrastructural development strides.
Ahmed who is also the Commissioner for Rural Development and Social Welfare in Katsina state, expressed appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State Government for receiving the delegation at short notice and thanked the Commissioner and her team for the warm reception accorded them.
The leader of the delegation recalled that Akwa Ibom and Katsina States were created on the same day, in the same year, maintaining that Katsina was interested in learning from Akwa Ibom’s development experience.
He explained that the delegation’s mission was to interact with relevant officials and obtain information that would assist Katsina State in establishing a facility similar to the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Senior Citizens’ Centre in Katsina.
Prof. Ahmed said the proposed project would be the first Senior Citizens’ Centre of its kind in Katsina state, and the entire North-West geo-political zone of the country.
At the Senator Oluremi Tinubu ARISE Senior Citizens’ Centre, Uyo, the delegation was received by the Delivery Adviser to the Governor on Senior Citizens Centre, Dr. Itanwan James, who described senior citizens as treasures of the nation, pillars of their communities and custodians of history.
James said the establishment of the centre was part of Governor Umo Eno’s administration’s efforts to provide senior citizens with a befitting and dignified life.
She explained that the facility was designed to serve senior citizens aged 65 years and above, irrespective of their social or economic status.
The Delivery Adviser commended the Katsina State Government for considering the establishment of a similar facility and conveyed a message of goodwill to the Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, for prioritising the welfare of his senior citizens.
She subsequently led the delegation on an extensive tour of the facility with sections such as office and work station, arts and crafts gallery, lounge, gym and dance area.
Other notable sections inspected were library, chapel and counselling unit, multi-purpose hall, state-of-the-art dining area, laundry room, store and kitchen.
The delegation equally inspected the Centre’s laboratory, consulting room, male and female observation rooms, pharmacy, primary health centre, outpatient department and supermarket.
The Director of Accounts and Finance in the Ministry, Mrs. Iquoidara Ibanga, had in her remarks,
commended Governor Umo Eno for his foresight in establishing such a befitting Centre for senior citizens in the state, attributing the growing number of visitors seeking to understudy its development initiatives to the widely acknowledged impacts of the administration’s programmes.
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