The Federal Government has commenced capacity building of 30 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) across the six South-West states toward making them self-reliant.
The 3-day capacity building workshop commenced on Wednesday at the Law Hub in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
This is organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD).
No fewer than 30 participants drawn from the six South-Western states attended the workshop and would get N100,000 each as start-up capital.
Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of FMHADMSD, said that persons with disabilities suffer discrimination resulting from societal attitudinal barriers which represented a major impediment to their socio-economic inclusion.
The minister, who was represented by Mrs. Nkechi Nwukwe, the Director, Special Needs from the ministry, said that the government is mindful of the importance of disability as a development issue.
“Therefore our gathering here today is to enable us explore greater possibilities in our collective quest to combat the challenges confronting the advancement of Persons with Disabilities for sustainable national development.
“Elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against PWDs and empowering them economically through provision of skills training will go a long way in paying the way to unbundle their full potentials,” she said.
She charged participants to be active in confronting the challenges of disability with determination, courage and confidence.
“I therefore want to encourage the participants here present to be active, alive and firmly confront the challenges of disability with determination, courage and confidence.
“I implore you to maximise the opportunities of this workshop to improve your livelihood and also contribute your quota to nation building,” she said.
Farouq said that the passage of the discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari offered great hope of inclusion and improved access to basic services.
Bashir Alkali, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the World Bank and WHO report on disability in 2011 estimated PWDs in Nigeria to be over 15 million and constituted the poorest.
Alkali, who was represented by Mr. Garba Magaji, said that the Federal Government would continue to be sensitive to the needs of PWDs and support the realisation of their potentials to enable them live a fulfilled life.
“It is only when PWDs are empowered, involved and included that they can be prepared to take advantage of opportunities and become more available to embrace their civic responsibilities.
“I want to assure you that the Federal Government remained committed to doing her bit in shaping the country to becoming more inclusive through disability sensitive policies and programming.
“I also want to assure you that the Federal Government would continue to be sensitive to the needs of PWDs and support the realisation of their potentials to enable them live a fulfilled life,” he said.
Mr. Taiwo Kolawole, the Managing Consultant, Rockbel Professional Services Limited, said that the three-day workshop was aimed at exposing participants to entrepreneurship skills that would make the self-reliant.
He said that the participants would trained in cosmetic production, fish farming and phone repairs, adding each of them would be empowered with a start-up capital of N100,000.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, having identified the need to socially include everybody in the country in national development.
“A zonal arrangement has been put in place to ensure people living with disabilities also benefit in income generating activities to make them self-reliant,” he said.
Mr. Funso Olajide, a participant, expressed optimism that the training would empower him to be self-reliant and self-independent.
“Even beyond that, it is not going to be only me, because at the end of the day, I should be able to step down this training to other persons with disability.
“Who are also going to benefit and at the end make a living. I should be able to empower others who are involved in arms begging,” he said.
Other participants appreciated the Federal Government for organising the workshop and empowering them.
