By Abba Gwale
Kano Citizens Concern Initiatives (KCCI), has disbursed N5000 each to 1000 vulnerable persons in Kano as a Ramadan support to help them cater for their needs during this period.
Speaking while disbursing the money to the beneficiaries at Rukayya House in Kano, the Chairman of the KCCI, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, said it was a member of the association that advised to embark on the intervention to help cushion the hardship situation face by particularly the masses in the country.
The association also in its efforts to help people living in the correctional centers with civil cases, had freed 25 inmates and supported them with N5000 each for transportation.
Tofa said the association formed a Welfare Committee that generated money within and outside members of the association from some people and also commenced the disbursement.
He said, “This is just the beginning and we hope the government and other NGOs will copy from us to reduce the abject poverty faced in the country.”
In his address, the Chairman of the Welfare Committee, who is also a former Minister of Mines, Still and Development, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Borodo said about N11 million was generated from donation of people within a period of one week and that they choose three different areas to disburse the cash.
He noted that aside the payment of fine to prisoners and disbursement of the cash, the association also will visit five different hospitals in the state metropolis to disburse same amount to patients.
“We disbursed N5000 cash to 1000 people, making N5 million. We also sidelined N1.5 million to free inmates that have civil cases. Also the remaining N3.5 million will be disbursed in hospitals tomorrow insha Allah.
“All arrangements have been made and tomorrow we will gather here and move to the hospitals. The hospitals we are visiting include Murtala Muhammed General Hospital, Asiya Bayero, Jakara Hospital, Abubakar Imam Urology and Sir Sunusi hospital. Also in the hospitals we will disburse N5000 to each of the patients we are able to cover,” he said.
He appreciated the people that contributed their money to the committee and that the door is still open for more contribution for disbursement to the needy, as more people are also in need of the support.
Barrister Aisha Ali Tijjani, one of the legal committee members of the KCCI appreciated the association for the kind gesture and promised that it is just the beginning and the sky is their limit in terms of helping the society.
She said, “The effort of the KCCI in this regard cannot be over emphasized. The effort is a giant one and the sky is the limit of KCCI. Definitely we are starting and we are moving forward. This is a philanthropic assistance and is what is expected of the society to shoulder corporate social responsibility of individuals. KCCI is quite alright, very sensitive to the situation and socioeconomic condition of what is going on.
On their part, some of the beneficiaries that receive the gesture, which include males and females appreciated the association for the support and promised to utilize the funds appropriately.
“I received N5000 from this great association and am elated to be part of this. The money will help me in many ways with regards to my family. I really appreciate them and I hope other wealthy individuals and groups will copy from them,” said Haruna Ibrahim Kurmawa, one of the beneficiaries.
Zuwaira Sani, one of the female beneficiaries also expressed her delight for receiving the gesture and prayed for the progress of the association and its entire members.
