Nigerian Governor Raises N500m For The Needy

To further express his desire to serve humanity even outside political office, Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau on Monday 18 October launched a Foundation that would cater for the needs of the less privileged in the society. The launching of the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau Foundation dubbed Helping The Needy raised about N515 million from instant donations made by both the Talakawa and the mighty.

The event held at Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall was chaired by former Head of State, Alhaji Abdulsalami Abubakar who noted that Malam Shekarau government has, indeed, performed creditably in the area of human development and peaceful co-existence among indigenes and non-indigenes in Kano.

“I learnt that the aim (of the Foundation) is to consolidate the gains of the Governor’s cardinal policy of human development, but this time on personal ground. I would agree with him that in nation building, uplifting the conditions of men and women should be the prime concern for the leaders for any other development goals to be realized. It is only then you would have people to lead a life of peaceful co-existence and harmony among themselves and their neighbours.”

Abubakar also noted that when people are given the privilege to enjoy goodwill, it would motivate them to become socially and economically responsible, adding that Shekarau, through the launching of the Foundation has demonstrated that it is not only the government that has the responsibility to make life better for the people, “all the individual members of the society to varying degrees, do have similar responsibilities.”

The former Head of State observed that the acts of brigandage, social unrest and criminality in the society can only be curbed when individuals and corporate organization contribute towards the match to economical and technological advancement, adding that such gestures could be made through a platform such as the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau Foundation which backbone is human development.

In his opinion, if the Nigerian youths are empowered, the spate of crime and restiveness will be reduced while the advancement of the nation’s economy would have been greatly enhanced. “The existing scenario of teeming youths in our population who are overbearing for their parents to take the proper care of them coupled with sometimes, greedy or overzealous men and women in the society who are bent on exploiting the situation for their selfish gains must be reversed. Endowment funds like the one we are today launching is one of the philanthropic gestures through which we can successfully address these ills by awards of scholarships to those who are willing study but are not financially able.”

The founder of the Foundation, Governor Shekarau while giving reasons for the initiative, said he was inspired by the believe that the true essence of a society is anchored in being one’s brother’s keeper and making oneself available to better the lives of the down-trodden and the less privileged people.

For him, there is a need to take the pride as a corporate entity or individuals to deservedly help to shape the people’s living standard above the want for basic needs and rights, pointing out that in politics, business, and private life, respect for humanity have remained the ever formidable key to sustainable co-existence.

“The threat of catching the stigma of deprivation will be lurking behind us when we dare commit the sin of negligence to taking a good care of ourselves with fraternity and neighbourliness. While I humbly agree that life is full of contrasts—always, there will be the strong and the weak, the haves and the have-nots, the healthy and the sick, the educated and the ignorant—our ability to win the battle therefore rests upon our spontaneous response and will to take on this danger. The foundation is an effort and a contribution conceived in that direction to help deliver the society, especially, the vulnerable among them.

“Our main vision has to do with contending social exigencies in spite of their antecedents so as to empower everybody reach his or her goals. The orphans, the widows and the less privileged among us will be the major targets to assist in this endeavour through the provision of the minimum facilities that will launch them fight destitution and acquire the right education and life-skills for a useful life,” Shekarau noted.

The Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Dan Massanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Alhaji Abdulkadir Sanusi Dandata and Alhaji Abubakar Imam Galadanci, chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, who spoke at different times during the occasion described Governor Shekarau as a man with a heart of gold whose interest, philosophy and the general outlook on life is underscored with a burning desire to better the lots of humanity, while urging the general public to donate graciously so as to help the Foundation achieve its goals and aspirations.

By Maduabuchi Nmemribeh/Kano

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