Bafarawa Giving Back Initiative spends N50m to combat street begging in Sokoto

The Giving Back Initiative of former Gov. of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has expended N50 million to address the menace of street begging across the state.

The Chairman of the initiative, Malam Lawal Maidoki, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Sokoto on Friday.

Maidoki said the long-standing phenomenon of children seeking Islamic education across the state has continued to evolve into a social and humanitarian challenge that requires urgent and collective intervention.

He recalled that early last year, the former governor donated N1 billion and inaugurated a committee with the mandate to implement various intervention programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens across the state.

According to him, the intervention touched several sectors of human capital development, particularly targeting the needy and vulnerable.

He added that as the exercise neared completion, the initiative resolved to pilot specific measures to tackle the growing problem of children street begging.

“Consequently, a committee was constituted to steer the activities. The committee identified the required action plan and has since executed the necessary measures,” Maidoki said.

He explained that the N50 million was allocated to provide entrepreneurship support, food, and daily necessities for the children throughout the duration of the training programme.

“This empowerment initiative is a commitment that will encourage citizens and government efforts toward eradicating the menace of street begging and enable the children to become productive members of society,” he added.

Maidoki further stated that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the initiative.

He revealed that selected schools across Sokoto South, Sokoto North, Bodinga, Tambuwal, Gwadabawa, Silame, and Wurno Local Government Areas were benefiting from the programme.

According to him, the children had been enrolled in various vocational and entrepreneurship training programmes, including tailoring, shoemaking, fashion design, and other skills, with all necessary equipment provided.

He called on well-meaning individuals to support similar initiatives that would uplift the living standards of citizens, while urging beneficiaries to continue to pray for the donors.