NEAZDP RURAL EMANCIPATION IN YOBE STATE.

“NEAZDP RURAL EMANCIPATION IN YOBE STATE, PHASE II”

A paper presented

By

Dr. Hussaini K. Hassan

Programme Manager, NEAZDP

ON THE OCCASION OF DISBURSEMENT OF SUPPORT/ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO 450 PHYSICALLY DISABLED MEN AND WOMEN INCLUDING WIDOWS IN NEAZDP CATCHMENT AREA; HELD IN GEIDAM, GASHUA AND NGURU CENTRES ON 22^ND 23^RD AND 25^TH MAY, 2012.

Once more, I thank Almighty Allah for making this laudable event a reality as promised last year around this critical period of the year.

Fellow mankind, the philosophy of philantropism is ordained by Almighty Allah upon all those who do not have in a form of charity, support/assistance, zakat, donation and/or foundation.

It is in line with this stipulated philosophy that NEAZDP came up with this laudable programme to address the yearning of the teaming vulnerable groups among the society we live and survive.

Hon. Commissioner Sir, Chaimen of 9 local Government Areas of NEAZDP Catchment Area, invited Guests; it is not out of place for me to quickly recap what I said last year during this occasion. In Islamic Jurisprudence, Preaching and Development is a continuous process throughout the life. That is why it is imperative to propagate such ideologies throughout our existence until mankinds are fully acquainted with the ideology of being their brothers keepers.

I did said that ‘‘ Emancipation” simply means setting someone free from slavery, legal, political or social restrictions in terms of hunger, malnutrition, starvation, diseases or essential amenities of live in general. Based on this definition, therefore the most deprived persons are those people subjected to abject poverty. This implies that, the poorest among mankind are non productive individuals who entirely depend on begging and charity to survive.

It is in line with this scenario that NEAZDP have embarked upon critical analysis of the most poorest among human beings and have found that blind, leapers, cripples, as well as widows are mostly subjected to this ailment called poverty. Sincerely speaking, majority of these people are unproductive at all, therefore require support/assistance services only. However, very few of them can be productive when given the chance. Invited Guests, let me share with you at this occasion by saying that anybody who is unable or lacking the essential amenities of life is poor. These includes; food, shelter, clothing, portable drinking water, literacy. Electricity, etc. To sustain oneself in the provision of these amenities, implies that majority of us here are poor. But the poorest are these groups of vulnerable we are assisting today. Poverty is lack of essential amenities of life, while poverty line or index is the level of income adequate for a person to sustain a living. Let me reveal that more than 80% of Nigerians lives below poverty line, as well as majority of Sub-Saharan Africa. This perhaps is the greatest reason why most Africans are in crisis coupled with corruption and poor leadership.

The administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, The Executive Governor of Yobe State have underscore the prevailing circumstances and came up with various laudable programmes to address this pervasive situation.

These include among others;

Provision of free drugs and medication to children under 5 years and their mothers.

Provision of clothing and food materials to needy persons among the society.

Provision of cheapest housing unit scheme to teaming civil, private and cooperative bodies within the state which earned him National Award.

Prompt provision of relief materials to affected areas/persons.

Scholarship and free education to gifted children within the state.

NEAZDP’^s efforts in provision of essential materials to blinds, leapers, cripples as well as widows is a compliment to Ibrahim Gaidam’^s objectives of ‘‘ Rural Emancipation In Yobe State” therefore deserves applause. Today, each of the 450 beneficiaries of the vulnerable groups will receive 1 bag of millet (100kg) and 10 yards of clothing materials free. Assuming that each person has 5 dependants within his household, this implies that 2.250 individuals will lay hands on this gesture in terms of food on the table.

NEAZDP in a similar manner do extend this type of services to Orphans, widows and Mosques freely apart from its statutory functions and responsibilities. This year 2012, widows are fully co-opted with vulnerable groups to benefit from this laudable programme.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a historical day of humanity service that needs to be remembered throughout our existence.

I therefore urge able persons (the fortunate ones) among the society to honestly provide their quarter of support/assistance in this direction.

In the end, let me assure you that this gesture will remain part and parcel of NEAZDP programme throughout its lifespan as I proclaimed last year.

Once more, I welcome you again and wish you safe journey to your various destinations, Ameen.

DR. HUSSAINI K. HASSAN

(Programme Manager, NEAZDP)