Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved the disbursement of ₦300 million to support Imo indigenes returning from South Africa and students of the Nigerian Law School from the State.
The intervention will see 250 returnees from South Africa receive ₦1 million each to aid their rehabilitation and reintegration, while 100 Imo students at the Nigerian Law School will be given ₦500,000 each to cushion the rising cost of living.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Owerri by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.
According to Emelumba, the Governor approved the humanitarian intervention after considering the difficult circumstances facing the beneficiaries.
“The law students made a passionate appeal to His Excellency to support them to cushion the global inflation as regards the cost of living. As a caring father, he responded promptly,” the Commissioner said.
He added that the financial support for the South African returnees was driven by the Governor’s compassion, noting that the affected indigenes had endured traumatic experiences and required assistance to rebuild their lives.
Emelumba explained that Uzodimma believed the returnees, who were compelled to leave South Africa, deserved government support to help them resettle and reintegrate into society with minimal hardship.
He also stated that the intervention aligns with the Governor’s Shared Prosperity agenda, which prioritises the welfare of citizens alongside the administration’s ongoing infrastructural development across the State.
Speaking on the law students, the Commissioner noted that this was not the first time the Governor had extended financial support to them.
“Most of them are on the scholarship list of the state government, and from time to time, the Governor extends a helping hand to them,” he added.
