April 6: Leading mobile operator, Zain Nigeria has partnered with Challenge Your Disability Initiative (CYDI), a non-profit organization based in Bauchi, to empower Nigerians with various forms of disabilities to become self- sustainable and financially independent.

The Telco operator, yesterday, joined forces with CYDI to lift physically disabled Nigerians at a graduation ceremony held in honour of physically disabled students under the CYDI Skill Acquisition Scheme, a specialized intensive training programme for physically disabled people in Nigeria.

At the occasion, Zain, in the spirit of Belonging and in line with its brand promise of a ‘Wonderful World’, supported the carpentry and welding graduating students with donations of high quality work tools that will assist the graduates optimize relevant skills in their chosen professions, also enabling them to become self-reliant and productive.

Speaking at the  event, which held at the CYDI Training Centre in Bauchi, Bauchi State, the Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria, Alain Sainte-Marie said Zain’s partnership with CYDI to provide Succour for less privileged Nigerians underscores the company’s commitment to the social and economic development of the communities in which it operates.

Sainte-Marie who was represented by Mouktar Lugga, Manager: Distribution (North) stated that the welfare of these communities is critical to the company’s overall success, adding that the material impact of Zain’s social investment activities have a particular emphasis on education and its vital role in poverty alleviation and social cohesion.

While commending CYDI for empowering physically disabled Nigerians with skills and work tools, he urged the graduates to demonstrate the capacity for self-improvement and for meeting the challenges ahead.

Work tools donated to the graduating students include Sprinying Machine, Jack Saw Machine, Jack plane brand, Long Cramp, carpentry vice, spoke shave, Hammer big muller, Pinches cutter, Tasks Hammer, Square and Welding machine.

Others were Filling Machine, Vice Machine, Cable for Welding, Saw Machine, Measure Tape and Welding Burn.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Babayo Garza Gamawa commended Zain Nigeria for supporting CYDI in empowering the rural poor and less privileged people in the society.

In her submission, Wife of the Governor of Bauchi State and Founder, Challenge Your Disability Initiative (CYDI), Hajiya Hauwa Abiodun Isa Yuguda poured encomiums on Zain for providing empowerment tools for the carpentry and welding graduates.

The event, which held at the Challenge Your Disability Initiative Centre in Bauchi featured dance and music performances from different dance troupes and music bands. It was attended by top government officials including the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa and

Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Hauwa Abiodun Isa Yuguda; Zain Nigeria’s Regional Sales Manager (North), Mohammed Bashir; Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Zain Nigeria, Chinda Manjor; Legal and Regulatory Coordinator (North), Zain Nigeria, Mohammed Mustapha; Alli Wali, District Manager (Bauchi), Zain Nigeria and Erhumu Bayagbon, PR Specialist, Zain Nigeria among many others.

Challenge Your Disability Initiative (CYDI) is a rehabilitative and empowerment programme aimed at supporting Children, youths and adults with various forms of disabilities in Nigeria.

At the instance of Hajia Abiodun Hauwa Isa Yuguda, wife of the Governor of Bauchi State, the organization was established with a mission to provide quality services to persons faced with arduous challenge of overcoming one form of disability or another and to complement the efforts of Government through human-centred vocational training, education and social integration programmes geared towards rehabilitating and empowering people living with disability.


Source: http://nigerianbulletin.com