The Director General of the Adamawa State Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA), Dr. Michael Zira, has applauded Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for approving an additional N5 billion to support 1,000 poor citizens across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The intervention is tied to the ongoing N50,000 cash transfer scheme designed to lift vulnerable residents out of poverty. According to Dr. Zira, the governor’s decision reflects an uncommon compassion and a deep commitment to the welfare of the poor. “This is unprecedented in the history of Adamawa State. It is no surprise that he has been recognized as Governor of the Year more than once,” he told The Trumpet.
Highlighting past achievements of the program, Zira noted that PAWECA had already reached 60,000 beneficiaries, including Muslim and Christian women who received equal shares under the Fintiri Business Wallet initiative. “We ensured fairness and transparency. I personally supervised the distributions, and today more than forty thousand people can testify to the impact,” he said.
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He revealed that alongside the initial 60,000 beneficiaries, an additional 1,000 people have now been targeted with fresh funding. He further disclosed that PAWECA is set to train 10,000 individuals in various vocational skills to create sustainable livelihoods.
Dr. Zira urged citizens not to rely solely on government salaries but to embrace entrepreneurship as a path to financial freedom. “I have made it my life’s mission to help the poor. The governor has supported this mission fully, and we have recorded a 92 percent success rate in previous distributions,” he added.
He acknowledged challenges, including attempts by some individuals to exploit applicants by selling forms, even to secondary school students. He confirmed that PAWECA is working with security agencies to curb such irregularities.
Despite political criticisms, Zira maintained that the agency remains focused on delivering results. “Governor Fintiri cares deeply for his people, and I am proud to follow his example. His leadership continues to set the pace for poverty alleviation in Nigeria,” he said.
