No fewer than 250 elders across 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom will receive 50,000 as the state Governor Pastor Umo Eno flags off elders’ social welfare package to support aged persons in the state.
Tagged ” A-R-I-S-E Initiative ” the programme is aimed at taking care of elderly people monitored and supervised by the office of the First Lady Mrs Patience Umo Eno.
A press release by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umo Eno Mr Ekerette Udoh made available to newsmen in Uyo on Sunday stated that Governor Eno flagged off the programme at All Nations Christian Ministry International Eket.
Eno said implementation of the programme will commence immediately in support of the lofty ideals of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the Wife of the President, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON OON.
He used the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting the independence of the judiciary following his victory at the Supreme Court last week.
“Let me state again that even though I am a member of the PDP, I have made up my mind to work with the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”
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He said the A-R-I-S-E Initiative would be administered by the Office of the First Lady of the State, Pastor Patience Umo Eno through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare with all female Commissioners in the State EXCO as members.
Eno noted with appreciation the gesture by the president senator Oluremi Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative for donating 100,000 Naira to 250 elders across the State last week.
He explained that the State under his administration will continue to adopt and support good initiatives and other programmes that will benefit the generality of Akwa Ibom people.
He said through the A-R-I-S-E Initiative, N50,000 will be given to each of the 500 elders to be selected across the State by the Local Government Transition Chairmen who will carefully carry out the selection process.
The Governor tasked the Transition Chairmen to ensure the programme is carried out with the highest level of transparency so that the impact will be felt by as many people as possible.
The Governor said the initiative is in line with the government’s plan to build a center for the elderly who according to him have laboured for the State for many years and deserve to be honoured and taken care of, while alive.
“The first meeting to work out the modalities of implementation is expected to take place shortly,” he said.
