Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has launched a N20m support initiative to empower 400 women living with disabilities in the state with financial assistance and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Otti presented the support on Friday during an outreach programme for women living with disabilities in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The intervention was organised through the Safe Tent Care Initiative, founded by the governor’s wife.

She described the initiative as a practical intervention for people facing economic hardship, promising that similar programmes would be sustained.

“This has been a long time coming, and this is just the start. I want to promise you that this will be a very frequent intervention from my office,” she said.

Otti said the support was also aimed at ensuring that women living with disabilities received attention similar to that given to other women during the recent August Meeting.

She said persons living with disabilities continued to face challenges including unemployment, financial insecurity, medical expenses, limited mobility, poor accessibility, stigma and social exclusion.

“The true measure of a society is not how high its strongest can rise, but how faithfully it reaches for those who face the greatest barriers and how firmly it stands beside them until they too can rise.

“My dear brothers and sisters living with disabilities, you matter, you are seen, and you belong to our state. In times of hardship, compassion must not be distant. It must be present, it must be practical, and it must reach the people who need it most,” Otti said.

She said her office had maintained engagement with the disability community since 2023, adding that more than 600 persons with disabilities benefited from a food and cash outreach in 2024, while about 100 entrepreneurs living with disabilities received business support through a partnership with her office in 2025.

“This is not charity and not an end in itself; it is solidarity in action. We do not just believe in handouts. We believe in teaching our people to fish and not handing them fish,” she said.

Otti disclosed that her office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Directorate of Employment to train 200 women in vocational skills for three months and provide them with starter packs, with a portion of the beneficiaries reserved for women living with disabilities.

She said the various interventions were designed to move beneficiaries from immediate relief to greater economic independence.

“These interventions may take different forms, but they are united by one purpose, to move from relief to resilience, from dependence to opportunity, and from vulnerability to greater economic independence,” she said.

Otti also referenced the National Community Food Bank for the South-East, launched by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Anambra State on Sunday.

She said the initiative would support vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and children, adding that Abia would soon launch its own community food bank with persons living with disabilities included among the beneficiaries.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Blessing Ngozi Felix, represented by Imo Obinna Sabbatin, said the state government had given persons with disabilities a greater sense of belonging.

“This government has made you realise that your voices matter. You are not nobody anymore. You are people, you are part of this state, you are part of this government. Your voices have been heard and will continue to be heard as long as this government is concerned,” she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, said disability should not be a reason for exclusion or discrimination.

“Persons with disabilities are valued members of our society. You are people with talent, dreams, abilities, and enormous contributions to make to the development of our state. Disability should never be a reason for exclusion, discrimination, or neglect,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons Living With Disabilities, David Anyaele, said the administration was focused on empowerment rather than palliatives.

He said the event formed part of the 2026 Women with Disabilities August Meeting and was organised after the governor’s wife concluded engagements with women across the state’s local government areas.

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has launched a N20m support initiative to empower 400 women living with disabilities in the state with financial assistance and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Otti presented the support on Friday during an outreach programme for women living with disabilities in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The intervention was organised through the Safe Tent Care Initiative, founded by the governor’s wife.

She described the initiative as a practical intervention for people facing economic hardship, promising that similar programmes would be sustained.

“This has been a long time coming, and this is just the start. I want to promise you that this will be a very frequent intervention from my office,” she said.

Otti said the support was also aimed at ensuring that women living with disabilities received attention similar to that given to other women during the recent August Meeting.

She said persons living with disabilities continued to face challenges including unemployment, financial insecurity, medical expenses, limited mobility, poor accessibility, stigma and social exclusion.

“The true measure of a society is not how high its strongest can rise, but how faithfully it reaches for those who face the greatest barriers and how firmly it stands beside them until they too can rise.

“My dear brothers and sisters living with disabilities, you matter, you are seen, and you belong to our state. In times of hardship, compassion must not be distant. It must be present, it must be practical, and it must reach the people who need it most,” Otti said.

She said her office had maintained engagement with the disability community since 2023, adding that more than 600 persons with disabilities benefited from a food and cash outreach in 2024, while about 100 entrepreneurs living with disabilities received business support through a partnership with her office in 2025.

“This is not charity and not an end in itself; it is solidarity in action. We do not just believe in handouts. We believe in teaching our people to fish and not handing them fish,” she said.

Otti disclosed that her office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Directorate of Employment to train 200 women in vocational skills for three months and provide them with starter packs, with a portion of the beneficiaries reserved for women living with disabilities.

She said the various interventions were designed to move beneficiaries from immediate relief to greater economic independence.

“These interventions may take different forms, but they are united by one purpose, to move from relief to resilience, from dependence to opportunity, and from vulnerability to greater economic independence,” she said.

Otti also referenced the National Community Food Bank for the South-East, launched by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Anambra State on Sunday.

She said the initiative would support vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and children, adding that Abia would soon launch its own community food bank with persons living with disabilities included among the beneficiaries.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Blessing Ngozi Felix, represented by Imo Obinna Sabbatin, said the state government had given persons with disabilities a greater sense of belonging.

“This government has made you realise that your voices matter. You are not nobody anymore. You are people, you are part of this state, you are part of this government. Your voices have been heard and will continue to be heard as long as this government is concerned,” she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, said disability should not be a reason for exclusion or discrimination.

“Persons with disabilities are valued members of our society. You are people with talent, dreams, abilities, and enormous contributions to make to the development of our state. Disability should never be a reason for exclusion, discrimination, or neglect,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons Living With Disabilities, David Anyaele, said the administration was focused on empowerment rather than palliatives.

He said the event formed part of the 2026 Women with Disabilities August Meeting and was organised after the governor’s wife concluded engagements with women across the state’s local government areas.

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has launched a N20m support initiative to empower 400 women living with disabilities in the state with financial assistance and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Otti presented the support on Friday during an outreach programme for women living with disabilities in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The intervention was organised through the Safe Tent Care Initiative, founded by the governor’s wife.

She described the initiative as a practical intervention for people facing economic hardship, promising that similar programmes would be sustained.

“This has been a long time coming, and this is just the start. I want to promise you that this will be a very frequent intervention from my office,” she said.

Otti said the support was also aimed at ensuring that women living with disabilities received attention similar to that given to other women during the recent August Meeting.

She said persons living with disabilities continued to face challenges including unemployment, financial insecurity, medical expenses, limited mobility, poor accessibility, stigma and social exclusion.

“The true measure of a society is not how high its strongest can rise, but how faithfully it reaches for those who face the greatest barriers and how firmly it stands beside them until they too can rise.

“My dear brothers and sisters living with disabilities, you matter, you are seen, and you belong to our state. In times of hardship, compassion must not be distant. It must be present, it must be practical, and it must reach the people who need it most,” Otti said.

She said her office had maintained engagement with the disability community since 2023, adding that more than 600 persons with disabilities benefited from a food and cash outreach in 2024, while about 100 entrepreneurs living with disabilities received business support through a partnership with her office in 2025.

“This is not charity and not an end in itself; it is solidarity in action. We do not just believe in handouts. We believe in teaching our people to fish and not handing them fish,” she said.

Otti disclosed that her office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Directorate of Employment to train 200 women in vocational skills for three months and provide them with starter packs, with a portion of the beneficiaries reserved for women living with disabilities.

She said the various interventions were designed to move beneficiaries from immediate relief to greater economic independence.

“These interventions may take different forms, but they are united by one purpose, to move from relief to resilience, from dependence to opportunity, and from vulnerability to greater economic independence,” she said.

Otti also referenced the National Community Food Bank for the South-East, launched by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Anambra State on Sunday.

She said the initiative would support vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and children, adding that Abia would soon launch its own community food bank with persons living with disabilities included among the beneficiaries.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Blessing Ngozi Felix, represented by Imo Obinna Sabbatin, said the state government had given persons with disabilities a greater sense of belonging.

“This government has made you realise that your voices matter. You are not nobody anymore. You are people, you are part of this state, you are part of this government. Your voices have been heard and will continue to be heard as long as this government is concerned,” she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, said disability should not be a reason for exclusion or discrimination.

“Persons with disabilities are valued members of our society. You are people with talent, dreams, abilities, and enormous contributions to make to the development of our state. Disability should never be a reason for exclusion, discrimination, or neglect,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons Living With Disabilities, David Anyaele, said the administration was focused on empowerment rather than palliatives.

He said the event formed part of the 2026 Women with Disabilities August Meeting and was organised after the governor’s wife concluded engagements with women across the state’s local government areas.

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has launched a N20m support initiative to empower 400 women living with disabilities in the state with financial assistance and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Otti presented the support on Friday during an outreach programme for women living with disabilities in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The intervention was organised through the Safe Tent Care Initiative, founded by the governor’s wife.

She described the initiative as a practical intervention for people facing economic hardship, promising that similar programmes would be sustained.

“This has been a long time coming, and this is just the start. I want to promise you that this will be a very frequent intervention from my office,” she said.

Otti said the support was also aimed at ensuring that women living with disabilities received attention similar to that given to other women during the recent August Meeting.

She said persons living with disabilities continued to face challenges including unemployment, financial insecurity, medical expenses, limited mobility, poor accessibility, stigma and social exclusion.

“The true measure of a society is not how high its strongest can rise, but how faithfully it reaches for those who face the greatest barriers and how firmly it stands beside them until they too can rise.

“My dear brothers and sisters living with disabilities, you matter, you are seen, and you belong to our state. In times of hardship, compassion must not be distant. It must be present, it must be practical, and it must reach the people who need it most,” Otti said.

She said her office had maintained engagement with the disability community since 2023, adding that more than 600 persons with disabilities benefited from a food and cash outreach in 2024, while about 100 entrepreneurs living with disabilities received business support through a partnership with her office in 2025.

“This is not charity and not an end in itself; it is solidarity in action. We do not just believe in handouts. We believe in teaching our people to fish and not handing them fish,” she said.

Otti disclosed that her office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Directorate of Employment to train 200 women in vocational skills for three months and provide them with starter packs, with a portion of the beneficiaries reserved for women living with disabilities.

She said the various interventions were designed to move beneficiaries from immediate relief to greater economic independence.

“These interventions may take different forms, but they are united by one purpose, to move from relief to resilience, from dependence to opportunity, and from vulnerability to greater economic independence,” she said.

Otti also referenced the National Community Food Bank for the South-East, launched by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Anambra State on Sunday.

She said the initiative would support vulnerable groups, including widows, elderly people, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers and children, adding that Abia would soon launch its own community food bank with persons living with disabilities included among the beneficiaries.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Blessing Ngozi Felix, represented by Imo Obinna Sabbatin, said the state government had given persons with disabilities a greater sense of belonging.

“This government has made you realise that your voices matter. You are not nobody anymore. You are people, you are part of this state, you are part of this government. Your voices have been heard and will continue to be heard as long as this government is concerned,” she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, said disability should not be a reason for exclusion or discrimination.

“Persons with disabilities are valued members of our society. You are people with talent, dreams, abilities, and enormous contributions to make to the development of our state. Disability should never be a reason for exclusion, discrimination, or neglect,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Persons Living With Disabilities, David Anyaele, said the administration was focused on empowerment rather than palliatives.

He said the event formed part of the 2026 Women with Disabilities August Meeting and was organised after the governor’s wife concluded engagements with women across the state’s local government areas.