Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has donated 350 bales of second-hand clothes, known in local parlance as okrika, to less-privileged persons in some Northern states.
The bales were said to have been distributed through the first lady’s foundation, Future Assured, to other Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs, who in turn distributed the items to the less-privileged in Kano, Katsina, Adamawa, Zamfara and Kaduna states.
According to DAILY NIGERIAN, an official of one of the NGOs in Kano, Sani Lawan, said that the state had received the largest share of the goods, while small quantity had been distributed to Katsina, Kaduna, Adamawa and Zamfara states.
Lawan said each of the select NGOs had received four bales, adding that most of the bales contain winter wears for children to protect them against the cold weather.
Apart from NGOs, Mr Lawan also said the goods were also distributed to some orphanages and psychiatric hospitals in Kano.
“Apart from NGOs, some orphanages and psychiatric hospitals benefitted. Each NGO had received 4 bales and there are some small quantities to be sent to Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Adamawa.
“As I am talking to you, the clothes are being distributed within the Kano city, but we will send a small amount to some villages in the state.
“Due to this cold weather, the First Lady deem it fit to help the vulnerable people, who might not have the money to buy harmattan wears. To me, it is a good initiative,” said the official.
The spokesman of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullahi, said he was not aware of the donation by his principal.
Abdullahi, however, said some politicians also organize empowerment programmes in the name of the first lady without even her knowledge.