Lagos empowers 2, 000 disabled

By Tope Musowo Lagos

Lagos state government yesterday empowered more than2, 000 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state with fi nancial grants, assistive technologies and mobility aids. It further disclosed plans to employ 250 physicallychallenged persons into the mainstream of the state and local government service. Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule, said the setting up of the Disability Trust Fund and diff erent empowerment programmes for PWDs was in fulfi llment of electoral promise to make life worth living for PWDs. Ambode explained that the gesture was aimed at moving

away from the charitable model of empowerment to a model that would make PWDs selfreliant and wealth creators. He urged other physically challenged bodies and individuals “who are not captured in the fi rst phase of the gesture” to be calm and show understanding with the government,” adding that more benefi ciaries would be captured in the future.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said the gesture would go “a long way in enhancing the productivity of this category of persons and also facilitates their contributions to the socio-economic development of the state.

” She maintained that in line with the social inclusion policy of the state government, “the administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will continue to ensure that the rights of PLWDs are protected and promoted through relevant policies and programmes.

” While noting that the gesture of the state government had assisted in reducing the menace of street begging in Lagos, she urged the beneficiaries to “see the empowerment as an opportunity to break away from the shackles of poverty by making judicious use of the grants and other assistive aids provided for them.” “Beneficiaries of this gesture of the state government must imbibe the spirit of giving and contributing to society and see themselves as instruments of positive change.”

She listed some of the items distributed to the selected beneficiaries to include: 1 Hyundai 30-Seater bus for Pacelli School for the visually impaired/Blind, Surulere, Lagos; one Hyundai 12-seater mini bus for Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (Lagos state chapter) and one Index Express Embosser with Duxbury Braille for the Nigerian Society for the Blind among several others. According to her, 10 nongovernmental organisations dealing with issues of disability in the state will receive N500, 000 each as grants, while 500 PWDs will also receive N100, 000 each as financial empowerment

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