Connect with us

NationalUpdate on PWDS

FG pledges support to NAB in accessible format, says Lalu

Published

on

The need to make all relevant printed materials readable to the Blinds is the priority of the Federal Government, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr James David Lalu has indicated

He made this pledge at a Press conference organized by the National Association of the Blind (NAB) in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission in Abuja, on Thursday
A statement by the Head Press and Public Relations Unit Mbanefo JohnMichaels I quote Lalu to have indicated that the Federal Government has an enormous Printing Press situated in Lagos which will be very instrumental to the conversion of books into readable format for the blind community.

He pointed out that the provision of accessible format will also help restore out-of -school children whose population is mostly Children with disabilities.

“We cannot be discussing inclusive education without referring to the availability of accessible format in our primary and secondary schools” he underpinned.

Lalu eulogized President Muhammadu Buhari who despite the economic challenges in Nigeria signed into law the Bill that established the Commission in 2019.

He further urged for all hands to be on deck to monitor the enforcement of the recent Bill assented to by the President to legalize the convertion of accessible materials for the benefit of the blind at no cost.

An elated President of the National Association of the Blind, Comrade Ishaq Adamu expressed profound gratitude to the Executive Secretary for his open door policy and to President Muhammadu Buhari for going a step further in demonstrating his passion for Persons With Disabilities in the country.

He used the event to congratulate the entire community of the Blind on this noble feat since Nigeria became a signatory to the Marakesh treaty on 27th July, 2013.

Adamu cited section 26 of the Marakesh which empowers a blind person to copy literary works into accessible formats.

Earlier in his speech, the Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. O. Asein stated that President Buhari’s vision in creating the platform which domesticates the copyrights of printed works in Nigeria without any course of discrimination is commendable.

The DG also hinted of the role of Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and Tertiary Institutions’ Trust Fund (TETFUND) in supporting the education of Persons With Disabilities across the Country.

While acknowledging the ES for hosting the group, he gave the assurance that the necessary funds will be provided in order to assist the education of the visually impaired at various levels of learning.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NationalUpdate on PWDS

PWDs request special consideration in FG pallaitive distribution in Jigawa

Published

on

By

From Ahmed Rufa’i Dutse
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Jigawa state have requested special consideration from Governor Malam Umar Namadi in the ongoing federal government palliative distribution.

The plea was made by Honourable Adamu Shuaibu, chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), who highlighted that PWDs have been overlooked in the selection of beneficiaries.
He urged the state and federal governments to create special provisions for PWDs due to their unique challenges.

Shuaibu noted that while the governor is supportive of inclusion, the implementation often neglects PWDs. He mentioned that concerns were raised with the deputy governor, who oversees the palliative distribution, requesting tailored support for PWDs at the local government level.
Shuaibu expressed disappointment that PWDs did not benefit from the recent distribution event in his local area, despite repeated inquiries from concerned members.
He indicated that he has reached out to the state assembly speaker and the governor’s special assistant on disability matters for assistance and remains hopeful for a positive response.
The chairman also acknowledged the government’s efforts in implementing disability laws and includes PWDs in recent teacher employment initiatives.

Continue Reading

NationalUpdate on PWDS

PWDs cry out For wheelchairs in Kogi, Mark Int’l Wheelchair Day

Published

on

By

By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja

The Kogi State chapter of the National Association of Persons With Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), has called on non-governmental organizations, donors, governments, corporate bodies, philanthropists and other spirited individuals in Nigeria, to provide them with motorized Wheelchairs and other accessibility aids.
The association made up of persons with physical Disabilities (PWDs) in the State made the clarion call while they marked this year’s international Wheelchair Day.
At the event which was held at the Disability House in Lokoja, on Friday, the Kogi State chapter of NAPWPD said there is urgent need to provide their members with motorized Wheelchairs to facilitate easy movement given the rising cost of transportation and excruciating poverty, members of the association who are mostly unemployed have been subjected to.

Kogi State Chairman of NAPWPD, Comrade Hassan Sule Destiny, in an emotion laden speech, said, “We are able to move about with the grace of God, and the celebration of this year’s international Wheelchair Day,
marks a turning-point in our quest for unhindered accessibility in the state as we look into the future with greater ‘hope’ and optimism, while we appreciate our good partner in the United States, the Disability Rights Fund, for providing us the support to commemorate the annual celebration of IWD on March 1 every year.”

Mr. Destiny, indicated that the association is growing local chapters at the grassroots to be at the vanguard of community engagement for popular participation of Wheelchair Users in social Inclusion at the local government level.

“We will soon inaugurate the local government chapters of NAPWPD in 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the state to amplify our ‘voice’ in the state.
“We shall continue with our struggle for easy ‘accessibility’ for greater empowerment of our members despite the hurdles against persons with physical Disabilities (PWDs) in the state for we believe in our inner spirit to overcome challenges.”

“The PWDs in the state cannot but thank the Disability Rights Fund for giving us the finances with which to organize the annual event just as we appreciate the innovative leadership of our national officers led by Comrade Ridwanu Mohammed Abdulllahi.
His exceptional leadership is inspiring us to greatness as we propagate the ideals of NAPWPD to the grassroots in the state.

A national officer of the association, Mr. Arome Daniel Ibrahim, extolled the courage of Wheelchair Users in the state even in the face of high cost of Wheelchairs, which according to him are beyond the reach of the PWDs.
He therefore called for local production of Wheelchairs at subsidized rate to enable more PWDs in the state acquire Wheelchairs as essential mobility aid to dymistify the agony of disability.

Arome, noted that Wheelchair Users incur extra cost of transporting their Wheelchairs, as often times, the PWDs charter motorcycles or commercial tricycles to convey their Wheelchairs separately along. Hence, the need for special allowances for the PWDs in civil service in order to make life easier for this category of deprived Nigerians who are limited by physical Disabilities.

The international Wheelchair Day is celebrated worldwide every in the month of March, to raise public awareness on the importance of Wheelchairs to accessibility of PWDs.

Continue Reading

NationalUpdate on PWDS

2 Months after, Over 64,000 PWDS, others yet to access Palliative in Jigawa

Published

on

By

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

About two months after the official launch of the cash and foodstuffs palliative distribution worth over N3.1 billion to physically challenge persons and other less privileged persons across 27 local government areas of Jigawa state, only 11 local government areas have been able to meet with the condition for cash collection.

The Jigawa state commissoner for special Duties, Auwal D Sankara indicated that 16 out of 27 local government councils are yet to meet the required criteria for collecting the sum of N720 million cash as palliative.

The commissoner made the disclosure while speaking to news men in Dutse, indicating that, “so far only 11 local governments were able to meet with the payment requirements adding that they stand to benefit from the current disbursement  of N1.08b cash as palliative to 108,000 persons in the state”.

According to him “The state government approved a total of N40 million for each of the 27 local government areas as palliative for 4,000 Persons Living With Disability (PWDs), Orphans, women and elderly people”.

Mr Sankara explained that 4000 persons will get 10,000 each from the 27 local government areas of the state.

Findings by our reporter in the state revealed that about two months after the official flag off of the palliative distribution by the state Governor Malam Umar Namadi only 44,000 out of 108,000 targeted beneficiaries have received the cash assistance.

It was also gathered that about 64,000 targeted beneficiaries who are People Leaving with Disability (PWDs), Orphans, elderly people and Women were waiting to collect.

When contacted the JIgawa state chairman of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Honourable Bala Usman Chamo said “The problem came as a result of the need for benefiaried to own bank accounts through which they can get the cash.

Hon Chamo explained that there are specific persons meant to benefit from the gesture.
In an attempted to ensure justice, transparency as well as blocking malpractices, the governor ordered that beneficiaries would be paid directly through their bank account”.

“And looking at the categories of the beneficiaries, especially those in the rural areas many of them have no bank account. I believed this is the major cause of the delay, but not because of negligence on the part of the local government councils’ chairmen”.

Our reporter in the state gathered that the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi had on 15th of September 2023 flagged up the palliative distribution to 108, 000 less prevellage people across 27 local government areas of the state.

When he launched the programme in Gumel town, the governor Namadi had indicated that his government allocated a total sum of N1.080 billion to be disbursed to the beneficiaries.

According to him, the N1.080 billion will be disbursed to 108,000 beneficiaries across the 287 political wards in the 27 local government areas in the state.

“Under this framework, N40 million will be allocated to each of the 27 local governments for distribution to 1,000 youths, 1,000 women, 1,000 elderly, and 1,000 persons with Disability. We are anticipating that 108,000 people will receive N10,000 each.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 National Update