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

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.