Family Trust, Beautiful Gate Empower 100 persons with disabilities with wheelchairs  

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Family Trust and Care Foundation, in partnership with the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Centre, has donated 100 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities, describing the initiative as part of a broader effort to promote inclusion, restore dignity and expand opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians.

The donation was unveiled during a ceremony attended by government officials, community leaders, development partners and beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Family Trust and Care Foundation and wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Gombe State, Hajiya Zainab Jamilu Gwamna, said the intervention was aimed at empowering persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in society.

She said the wheelchairs represented more than mobility aids, noting that they would improve access to education, healthcare, employment and other opportunities often denied to people living with disabilities.

“For many beneficiaries, a wheelchair means freedom and renewed hope. It restores independence and enables them to contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said.

Mrs Gwamna said the foundation remained committed to inclusive development through interventions in healthcare, education, humanitarian services and community empowerment.

According to her, the organisation has over the years supported vulnerable groups through medical outreach programmes, educational assistance, food distribution and empowerment initiatives targeting women, youths and persons with disabilities.

She described the collaboration with the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Centre as a partnership built on shared values and a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities.

“The partnership is a continuation of our efforts to support rehabilitation programmes, improve access to healthcare, provide assistive devices and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,” she said.

Mrs Gwamna added that the initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those promoting reduced inequalities, quality education, good health and inclusive communities.

She assured beneficiaries that the foundation would continue working with government agencies, development organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that no one is left behind.

Addressing the beneficiaries, she urged them not to allow physical challenges to define their future.

“You are valued, respected and capable of achieving your dreams. Let your strength, determination and resilience guide you as you take advantage of the opportunities before you,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director of Media and Communications at the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Centre in Jos, Sandra Nanbam Yilgwan, commended the Family Trust and Care Foundation for the partnership and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

She said the Jos-based organisation, established more than two decades ago, has expanded its activities to all 36 states of Nigeria and three other African countries.

According to her, the centre has produced and distributed over 42,000 tricycles, providing thousands of persons with disabilities with greater mobility and improved livelihoods.

She noted that the organisation works closely with religious bodies, political leaders and traditional institutions to promote disability inclusion and social integration.

Mrs Yilgwan explained that Beautiful Gate, a Christian organisation inspired by the biblical account in Acts Chapter 3, seeks to transform lives by providing assistive devices that enable persons with disabilities to attend school, acquire vocational skills, engage in farming and participate actively in society.

She cited the example of a woman with a disability in Lassa, Borno State, who became one of the community’s most successful farmers despite using a wheelchair.

According to her, the woman’s achievements demonstrate that disability does not determine a person’s potential.

She encouraged persons with disabilities to remain focused on their aspirations, stressing that with determination, opportunity and adequate support, they could excel in every sphere of life.

The organisers said the partnership would continue to deliver programmes that improve access to mobility, rehabilitation, healthcare and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities across Nigeria.

Tinubu flags off N70bn border roads project in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has flagged off a N70 billion border roads project under the federal government’s tax credit scheme in Borno State.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote will construct the 98.7-kilometre twin border roads to Cameroon and Chad in 18 months.

Commencing the construction of the concrete twin border roads at the Maiduguri Muna Garage, Tinubu, represented by his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, disclosed that the construction of the 49.55-kilometre Dikwa–Gamboru/Ngala road and the 49.15-kilometre Bama–Banki road are economically strategic highways and critical to what he described as ‘economic growth, regional integration, and national security in the Northeast region of the country.

The two-road project is regarded as the socio-economic lifeline of the North-East, stating that it serves as a key gateway to neighbouring African countries, which will bolster cross-border trade, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, and strengthen security operations in a region recovering from the 17-year Boko Haram insurgency.

The groundbreaking event was held along the 49.55-kilometre Maiduguri–Gamboru Ngala road, where President Tinubu was represented by the vice president, Kashim Shettima.

Shettima said the rehabilitation of the border roads with concrete laying would significantly improve connectivity and deliver on the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development across the country.

The VP said, “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has made infrastructure a central priority.”

“This is what Mr President promised Nigerians, and I’m here today to affirm our readiness to redeem that promise and convey his goodwill and gratitude for the support you have shown us.

“The Bama–Banki Corridor carries special strategic weight. It is a top route of agriculture, movement, and national security. The Dikwa–Gamboru Ngala Road belongs to the same vision of reconnecting communities and restoring economic confidence across Borno State,” he said. ”

Shettima commended Borno State governor Babagana Zulum for prioritising infrastructure development while maintaining a strong partnership with the federal government.

“The partnership between the federal government and Borno State shows what becomes possible when public institutions demonstrate the possibilities that arise when they unite in their commitment to the urgency of service. Certainly, Your Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, you are one of the best-performing governors in the federation,” the Vice President stated.

Governor Zulum expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the road projects and other critical interventions in Borno State.

“The successful commencement of this project reflects the strong partnership between the federal government and the Borno State government. We deeply appreciate and remain eternally grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his tireless dedication to the development, peace, and security of the North East and Nigeria as a whole,” said Zulum.

The governor also pledged the state’s political support for President Tinubu in the next presidential election of 2027.

Beyond the flag-off of two roads in the state, he added, “I want to assure the president and indeed the vice president that, Insha Allah, come January 2027, the people of Borno State will overwhelmingly vote him into office.”

The governor praised Vice President Shettima for his sustained support for the reconstruction and development of Borno State.

Zulum also acknowledged the humanitarian contributions of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, particularly through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, during the state’s recovery from insurgency and the 2024 flood disaster.

He recalled the construction of Dangote Village, the donation of ₦1.5 billion to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and ₦1 billion to the Borno State Government following the 2024 flood.

Interfaith Groups Seek Stronger Unity as Experts Warn Against Divisive Narratives in Nigeria

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

Religious leaders, civil society organisations and peacebuilding experts on Friday called for stronger national unity and collective action to address rising insecurity and social divisions in Nigeria.

The call was made during an interfaith dialogue organised in Abuja by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) in collaboration with CONCORD, a non-profit organisation focused on peacebuilding and human security.

The forum, themed “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Religious Pluralism: Faith, Dialogue and National Cohesion,” brought together stakeholders from faith-based organisations, civil society groups, policy institutions and community networks to discuss the growing concerns over religion, violence and national cohesion.

Participants at the meeting stressed the importance of dialogue, cooperation and inclusive governance in tackling insecurity and preventing further social fragmentation across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, said Nigeria must pay greater attention to vulnerable rural communities affected by violence and displacement.

Mr Ngwodo noted that sustainable peace could only be achieved through inclusive policies that address governance challenges, justice, development and community protection.

He added that insecurity in Nigeria remains complex, involving ethnic tensions, sectarian conflicts, organised crime and competition over resources.

According to him, responding effectively would require multidimensional solutions and stronger collaboration among government institutions, community leaders and civil society organisations.

Participants at the dialogue also advocated improved grassroots security, responsive governance and long-term investments in initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen national integration.

Also speaking, Fatima Madaki warned against the spread of misinformation and divisive narratives capable of deepening mistrust among communities.

She said Nigeria’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths and urged faith leaders and civic actors to continue promoting empathy, justice and national unity.

“Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and our ability to coexist despite our differences,” she said.

Organisations represented at the forum included the Islamic Education Trust, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, Center for Civilians in Conflict, Kukah Centre, Neem Foundation, HumAngle Foundation and the Centre for Peace Studies and Conflict Management, among others.

The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining interfaith dialogue and strengthening partnerships aimed at promoting peace, resilience and inclusive national development in Nigeria.