Determined to make life more meaningful to the senior citizens and offer a helping hand to needy elderly people who due to old age or one thing or another,could not fend for themselves, the Wife of the Former Governor on the 21st of May, 2013 distributed 500 UPLIFT Aged Welfare ATM Cards to elderly people from the 20 Local Government areas of the State.
Speaking during the launching ceremony of the UPLIFT Aged Welfare Cards at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta, Mrs. Amosun said the cards would hasten disbursement of funds and reduce the rigor and other challenges encountered during ongoing monthly distribution of food and commodities provided by the UPLIFT Development Foundation that commenced a year and a half ago. The aged beneficiaries reside in various locations across the length and breadth of Ogun State and this sometimes makes it very difficult to get to them in good time each month.
She explained that the Welfare Card, which was donated by
Ecobank Plc, was in continuation of the her UPLIFTing the Aged monthly welfare package which was flagged off in January 2012, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends through the Welfare Cards to purchase their food and other commodities without having to come down to Abeokuta or workers of Uplift Development Foundation travelling hundreds of kilometers to distribute those items on a monthly basis. According to her, “The Welfare Cards are in line with the proposed cashless policy of the State Government to reduce handling of cash in the society.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Ecobank Plc, Mr. Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo said the Welfare Cards would enable the senior citizens gain access to the monthly allowance without stress and commended Ogun State government for being a pacesetter in human-oriented projects as part of its mission to rebuild the state,opportunity to partner with her Uplift Development Foundation and the State Government, urging other states to emulate the project in order to give succor to the less privileged in the society.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Madam Alice Bello from Ikenne Local Government commended the initiative of the Wife of the Governor whom she described as a caring and compassionate woman that was committed to the well-being of the needy particularly the aged who are too weak to work to earn a living and those that had retired from active service.
