PRESS RELEASE
HUMANITARIAN MINISTRY PRESENTS ASSISITIVE AND EMPOWERMENT TOOLS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Nasir Sani- Gwarzo. mni, NPOM, has presented assistive devices and empowerment tools to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary said the
devices are aimed at improving the quality of life and promoting the inclusion and empowerment of PWDs in the society.
He stated that different types of disabilities require different Assistive Technologies (AT) to improve mobility, communication, and daily activities for sustained livelihood. “The assistive technologies ( ATs) include Communication Boards, Hearing Aids, Wheelchairs, Walkers, Special-purpose Computers, Keyboards, Screen Readers and empowerment tools. “Empowering PWDs is significant in nation building. It enables
them discover themselves, understand their environment, be aware of their rights, take control of their lives, and partake in essential decisions to improve their lives.
“The empowerment tools give them the opportunity to earn a living to sustain themselves, address employment issues, and breaking the cycle of disability, poverty, and exclusion of PWDs”.
He said the presentation of the assistive devices and empowerment tools to PWDs symbolizes the Ministry’s commitment to providing PWDs with mobility aids and empowerment tools to ease their movement and enable them to become an integral part of the society.
Dr Sani-Gwarzo said that Osifoluke Abiodun, Chief Social Welfare Officer, National Braille Press/Library, Lagos in the Department of Special Needs, produced a readable Diary and a Calendar by the blind and these will be presented to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
He also announced that the Ministry would carry out a follow-up exercise to ensure that the items given are used for the purpose for which they are meant to serve. He urged beneficiaries to judiciously make good use of the items given to them to ensure they become productive part of the society.
“The presentation of assistive devices and empowerment tools to PWDs is part of the Federal Ministry’s broader efforts to promote social inclusion and reduce poverty in Nigeria”, he added.
Earlier, the Director Special Needs, Mr. Chugodo. A.Sule, said the event is very important because, is the responsibility of the Ministry to take care of the PWDs, adding that the Ministry has made provision for items that would be given to help them in their day to day course of living.
He said the items are not to be sold but to be put to use for the betterment of their lives.
A beneficiary Mr. Shekwolo Yakubu Victor, Chairman FCT Indigenous Persons with Disabilities who received the items on behalf of his group, expressed his profound gratitude to President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs for the provision of the devices which will go a long way to improve the lives of the beneficiaries.
Rhoda Ishaku Iliya
