By Fred Edoreh
A few things warm the heart, like a handshake, a smile, a hug, a kiss and a token of love. Some other things heal, connect the world and reinforce our humanity, like caring for the needy, the vulnerable, widows, fatherless, motherless, orphans and the physically and mentally challenged in society.
That is what God enjoined us to do in Isaiah 1:17, when He said: “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come, let us reason together…”
Accordingly, it was edifying, and I am deeply moved to hear that Sheriff has approved two very special scholarship schemes in Delta State: for the bereaved children of Civil Servants who died in active service, and for persons living with disabilities who, despite their challenges, have chosen to develop themselves through education, to face life on their own.
The scholarships are to run through primary, secondary to tertiary levels and, as revealed by the Executive Secretary of the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Dr. Godfrey Enita, a total of 628 children of deceased Civil Servants drawn from over 200 families, and 60 students living with disabilities have been listed to benefit, starting from the 2023 scholarship scheme.
“These approvals by the Governor, underscores his passion and commitment towards the education of students of Delta State origin, regardless of their socio-economic background,” he noted.
The initiatives resonate with Sheriff’s personality and spirit of local content, street credibility and grassroots connect.
I recall during the campaigns when he said he knows the people, their challenges, their worries and their pains, explaining also that he knows how mothers sell their wrappers, jeweleries and other valuables just to see their children through school, and that his administration shall be anchored on empathy and he will relieve them of such burdens.
Today, he has not only fulfilled that promise but has institutionalized it as a policy of state, to ensure inclusiveness and a sense of belonging and commonwealth for all segments of our society.
Not only will the beneficiaries and their families be happy, God will be pleased with him, his administration and the state, because those who give to the poor and needy lend unto the Lord.
It is with this same spirit that he has expanded the Delta-CARES programme from 36,353 to 208,209 beneficiaries within one and half years in office, an increase of over 470%; introduced the MORE Grant Scheme which has empowered over 5,000 traders, artisans and female entrepreneurs with business support packages and financial grants; recently distributed farm inputs to over 6,000 farmers in the state to enhance agricultural production and move us closer to achieving food security; and announced the release of N1 billion as counterpart fund in the government’s collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to empower 2,000 small-holder farmers, as part of a broader plan to boost agriculture and foster sustainable development.
Even as he is doing these, he is still funding and vigorously executing over 200 roads, bridges, water, housing, health, education and various physical infrastructure development projects across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
With Sheriff, Delta runs very articulate programmes for the socio-economic development and prosperity of the people, with very humane face, and no matter what political opponents, the evil-minded and the unnecessarily envious say or do in their attempt to distract him, misinform or even divide the people with ethnic jingoism just to unduly create disaffection, the people can see that the government thinks about them, cares for them, works for them, and they can feel the impact.
They can see that the state is moving on from strength to strength, and that is what leadership is about.
(Fred Edoreh is from Umeh Town, Isoko South LGA, Delta State)
