By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – As part of activities to mark his 59th birthday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has enrolled 38 children of Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in school in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The beneficiaries were presented with school uniforms, sandals and bags at the L.E.A. Nursery and Primary School, Anguwan Guragu, Karmajiji, Abuja.
The gesture was a fulfilment of a promise by Gbajabiamila to improve the welfare of physically-challenged persons in the community, particularly in the last three years.
At the event, the beneficiaries and their parents thanked Mr Speaker for his kind gestures to the community since becoming the Number 4 Citizen of Nigeria in 2019.
Gbajabiamila was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Sanusi Garba Rikiji, who delivered his message to the PLWDs and their families.
Recalling how Gbajabiamila played host to PLWDs at the National Assembly during his 58th birthday in 2020, he said this time around, the speaker opted to take the celebration to the doorstep of PLWDs in Abuja by visiting their community in order to touch the lives of their children.
“In keeping with his concern for the PLWDs and the promise he made to improve on their welfare, Mr Speaker has continued to support them”, Rikiji stated.
In addition to the 38 children enrolled in school, Gbajabiamila offered a bursary award to Miss Hauwa Adamu, a visually impaired student of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo.
He also sponsored the GCE/WAEC fees of Husefah Mohammed Kabir and made a cash donation to the Blind Association in the area.
Furthermore, the Speaker made a cash donation to the Association of Physically Challenged Persons in the FCT.
“I urge the beneficiaries of the scholarship and their parents to continue to pray for our speaker. You have promised that you will dedicate some hours every Friday to pray for him,” he stated, adding, “I urge you not to relent. Continue in this path that you have chosen and God will reward all of us abundantly.”
Leaders of the community and the elated parents commended Gbajabiamila’s efforts in giving attention to the plight of PLWDs. They noted that sending children to school was a noble cause.
The Leader of PLWDs in the FCT, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina, praised Gbajabiamila for making the welfare of their children his priority in the past three years.
He observed that among the children the speaker had spent resources to train were future presidents, speakers and National Assembly members.
Also, the women leader in the community, Hajia Rahina Haruna commended the Speaker and prayed for him to live for another 59 years and more.
“It has been a long time that the speaker has helped us, especially in the past three years. May God help him to progress more. May God support him”, she added.
On her part, the headmistress of the school, Hajia Elela Maryam, said though she assumed duties there recently, she had been well-informed of the speaker’s good deeds and thanked him for his love for PLWDs.
Maryam seized the opportunity to plead with the Speaker to intervene in some of the challenges the school is faced with, particularly the lack of potable water, electricity and the non-payment of salaries to the teachers.
The highlight of the event included the cutting of the birthday cake, which was done on his behalf by the Chief of Staff in company of Gbajabiamila’s aides and sponsors of the project.