NCPWD Commends Tinubu, Edu For Empowering PWDs

By Garry Ochigbo

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities NCPWD, Mr James Lalu, has commented on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his initiatives targeted at empowering Persons With Disabilities, PWDs.

He made the call in Abuja, during the launching of an Empowerment program, to enable PWDs to become financially independent and contribute to national development.

He also appreciated the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu for being responsive to the yearnings of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in all aspects of governance in fulfilment of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his campaign promises.

According to him, the President has demonstrated quality leadership within a short time aimed at empowering members of the disability community.

Earlier, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, said the empowerment scheme will enable the beneficiaries to be self-reliant.

Dr Edu added that the occasion marks a significant step towards creating a Nigeria where every citizen, regardless of their disabilities, can thrive to maximise their full potential noting that persons with disabilities have been marginalized and excluded from society over time.

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She also expressed regret that they have been facing discrimination in education, employment, and access to public spaces as their voices have been silenced, their dreams dismissed, and their talents overlooked.

She added that the ministry has approved 10% Disability inclusion in all programs of the ministry, which shall be implemented through the Commission in reviving all the skills development centres across the country for holistic empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country.

The empowerment items include 150 PoS machines and the sum of 100,000 each as operating capital to the beneficiaries, distribution of the sum of 130,000 Naira scholarship intervention for PWDs in tertiary institutions, and an award of 20 million naira annual grant to Associations of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.

The ministry also marked the commencement of training and business name registration for PWDs for access to the Bank of Industry’s loans, the flagging off of the renovation of the Yangoji Leprosy centre and construction of 40 public toilets among others.

Edited By Grace Namiji