The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation (SUHF) has announced plans to provide humanitarian assistance to about 1,500 vulnerable residents of Sokoto State as part of activities marking its eighth Founder’s Day and Mega Humanitarian Outreach.

The foundation also plans to provide mattresses and other welfare support to inmates of the Sokoto Custodial Centre and commission a solar-powered borehole as part of its community development efforts.

The Founder and Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Saratu Abdullahi, stated this on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, where she formally presented plans for the outreach themed, “Bringing Hope Home.”

The visit was also aimed at securing the state government’s partnership, guidance and support for effective coordination and delivery of the intervention.

Speaking during the meeting, which was attended by the Deputy Governor, Idris Muhammad Gobir, and Commissioner for Innovation and Digital Economy, Bashar Ummarun Kwabo, Abdullahi described the visit as more than an official engagement, calling it a homecoming.

She said the decision to mark the foundation’s eighth anniversary in Sokoto was driven by a desire to give back to the state and communities that played important roles in shaping her life.

According to her, the outreach is expected to reach about 1,500 vulnerable residents in a single day, making it the foundation’s largest single-day intervention since its establishment.

She said the programme would cover humanitarian relief, healthcare, education, economic empowerment, correctional welfare and community development.

The planned interventions include support for vulnerable households, women and displaced persons; business and livelihood assistance; a back-to-school programme providing school bags and educational materials; medical screening and treatment; eye examinations; and provision of glasses for beneficiaries who require them.

Abdullahi said the foundation’s objective went beyond distributing relief materials, adding that the intervention was designed to create practical and lasting benefits for individuals and communities.

She said the Sokoto outreach was intended to combine immediate humanitarian assistance with initiatives capable of supporting long-term human capital and community development.

Responding, Governor Aliyu commended the foundation for what he described as a significant contribution to the welfare of vulnerable people in the state.

He acknowledged the breadth of the proposed programme, particularly its focus on education, healthcare, empowerment, food and welfare support, correctional services and community infrastructure.

The governor assured the foundation of the state government’s support and cooperation, saying relevant government agencies and stakeholders would work with it to facilitate the successful implementation of the outreach.

During the visit, the foundation presented an Award of Excellence to Governor Aliyu in recognition of his leadership, developmental efforts and support for humanitarian initiatives in Sokoto State.

Abdullahi also commended the governor’s administration for what she described as notable developmental strides under its Nine-Point SMART Agenda.

She said the foundation had observed a growing focus on infrastructure, human capital development, social investment and community development across the state.

The Shamies Unusual Heart Foundation is a Nigerian humanitarian and correctional reform organisation involved in education, rehabilitation, empowerment, healthcare, legal assistance, mental health interventions and humanitarian programmes.