By Francis Nansak Lafia
The magnanymous gestures of Hajiya Maryam Wadada,the would be Nasarawa State first lady and wife of Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu,the Frontline governorship candidate has come to it end in her county home keffi.
Maryam Wadada embarked on a tour to the 13 LGAs of the state and disbursed #325million naira aimed at empowering 500 women with each parting home with #50,000 to enable them to be self reliant in order to mitigate the current economic realities.
From Awe to Keffi beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes who were mainly women smile home even under the rain.
On Sunday in Keffi, where the empowerment scheme was brought to a close at the Muhammad Chindo Yamusa Square in the heart of Keffi, thousands of jubilant women gathered, not merely to catch a glimpse of Hajiya Maryam Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, but to celebrate a gesture they described as an uncommon demonstration of compassion and concern for women struggling to provide for their families.
Many of the women who thronged the venue,young, elderly and middle-aged alike described Hajiya Maryam as “a woman with the heart of gold,” applauding what they said was a practical intervention at a time when many families are confronted by economic hardship.
Addressing the mammoth crowd in Keffi, Hajiya Maryam said the objective was not simply to distribute money, but to give women an opportunity to escape the grip of poverty and build a better future for themselves and their families.
She described women as the backbone of the family, stressing that assisting them could no longer be postponed.
According to her, when a woman receives the means to trade, farm, process food, or establish a small enterprise, the benefit rarely ends with her. It reaches her children, her husband, her extended family and, ultimately, the community.
She therefore urged the beneficiaries to invest the money wisely and turn the intervention into a foundation for sustainable economic independence.
Hajiya Maryam called on the women of Nasarawa State to support the governorship aspiration of her husband, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, saying his emergence as governor in 2027 would provide an opportunity to institutionalise people-centred programmes capable of reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunities across the state.
She promised that, if given the opportunity to serve as First Lady, she would champion programmes that directly respond to the needs of ordinary people, particularly women and vulnerable families.
Earlier,the Chairman, Keffi Local Government Council, Dr. Idris Damagani in his welcome address, commended Hajiya Maryam for establishing what he described as an unprecedented poverty alleviation initiative targeted at women.
He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation to consume the money and instead invest it in ventures capable of generating continuous income.
The chairman also assured that Keffi, the home of Senator Wadada, would demonstrate overwhelming support for his governorship ambition in the 2027 election.
Before commencing the final phase of the empowerment programme in Keffi, Hajiya Maryam and her entourage paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Chindo Yamusa III, to seek his royal blessings.
The visit provided another significant moment in the journey that had taken the empowerment train through the diverse communities of Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the palace, Hajiya Maryam acknowledged the fatherly role the Emir had continued to play in the political career of her husband and expressed appreciation for the traditional institution’s guidance and support.
She also appealed for the continued support of traditional rulers across the state for Senator Wadada’s political aspiration.
Responding, the Emir of Keffi, Dr. Chindo Yamusa III, described Senator Wadada as a worthy son of Keffi and pledged his support for his aspiration.
His words added a traditional dimension to a programme that had, over the preceding days, been defined largely by grassroots engagement.
