FG Empowers PWDs in South-West

In a bid to address economic challenges among persons with disabilities, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has organized a 3-day capacity building and empowerment workshop on income-generating activities.

The workshop, held in Ibadan for the Southwest zone, was designed to train persons with disabilities on various vocational skills.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq said the workshop was part of the ministry’s efforts at combating the challenges confronting the advancement of persons with disabilities for sustainable national development.

Represented by Director, Special Needs Department of the ministry, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, the Minister noted that elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against persons with disabilities, as well as, empowering them economically would go a long way in unbundling their full potential.

“I want to assure you that the federal government remains committed to doing her bit in shaping the country to become more inclusive through disability sensitive policies and programming. I, therefore, call on all and sundry to support the efforts of governments at all levels in achieving the desired goal of a country devoid of all forms of discrimination against PWDs”

“I also want to assure you that the federal government will continue to be sensitive to the needs of PWDs and support the realization of their potentials to enable them to live a fulfilled life”

The facilitator of the workshop, Mr Kolawole Taiwo said the participants would be trained on vocational skills including fish farming, mobile phone repairs and soap making.

Mr Taiwo added that after the workshop, the participants would be given 100,000 naira each as a start-up grant.

Two of the participants, Funsho Olajide and Olayinka Ileyemi commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for the workshop, expressing optimism that the training would give them the opportunity of having a solid means of livelihood.

Radio Nigeria gathered that 30 participants, drawn from states in the southwest attended the workshop.

Oluwakayode Banjo