Foundation Targets 1,500 Vulnerable Persons In Sokoto Outreach

The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation plans to provide humanitarian assistance to about 1,500 vulnerable persons in Sokoto State as part of activities marking its eighth Founder’s Day.

Its founder and executive director, Dr Saratu Abdullahi, disclosed this recently when she visited the Sokoto State governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, to present the foundation’s forthcoming Mega Humanitarian Outreach, tagged, “Bringing Hope Home.”

Abdullahi said the visit was aimed at securing the partnership, guidance and support of the state government for the successful coordination and implementation of the intervention.

She said the decision to hold the foundation’s eighth-anniversary programme in Sokoto was deliberate, describing it as a homecoming and an opportunity to give back to the state and communities that helped shape her life.

According to her, the outreach will be the foundation’s largest single-day humanitarian intervention since its establishment, with activities spanning healthcare, education, economic empowerment, correctional welfare, humanitarian relief and community development.

She said the programme would provide support to vulnerable households, women and displaced persons, while beneficiaries would also receive business and livelihood assistance.

The foundation also plans to implement a Back-to-School initiative to distribute school bags and educational materials to children.

Other components of the outreach include medical screening and treatment, eye examinations, and the provision of glasses to beneficiaries who require them.

Abdullahi said the foundation would also provide mattresses and other welfare materials to inmates at the Sokoto Custodial Centre, while a solar-powered borehole would be commissioned as part of its community development intervention.

She said the initiative was not limited to distributing relief materials but was designed to combine immediate humanitarian assistance with interventions that improve livelihoods and strengthen communities.

“We want the intervention to go beyond giving relief. We want to create practical and lasting impact in the lives of beneficiaries and communities,” she said.

Responding, Governor Aliyu commended the foundation for the initiative and assured it of the state government’s support and cooperation.

The governor said the proposed intervention, particularly its focus on education, healthcare, empowerment, welfare and community infrastructure, would complement the government’s efforts to improve the well-being of vulnerable residents.

He assured the foundation that the state government would work with it and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful implementation of the outreach.

During the visit, the foundation also presented the governor with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his leadership and contributions to Sokoto State’s development.

The foundation said the award was in appreciation of the administration’s efforts in infrastructure, human capital development, social investment and community development.

Abdullahi commended the governor’s administration, particularly its Nine-Point SMART Agenda, saying the foundation had observed notable developmental strides across the state.

The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation is a Nigerian humanitarian and correctional reform organisation involved in education, rehabilitation, empowerment, healthcare, legal assistance and humanitarian interventions for vulnerable individuals and communities.