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Tag: new life

New life for forgotten Katsina community

Dansabau village in Kankara Local Government of Katsina State, with an estimated population of 100,000, was a largely forgotten community until Governor Aminu Bello Masari visited. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE reports

Without a passable road, potable water or electricity, and virtually cut off from the rest of society, they knew pretty little about the modern era. Dansabau residents in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State had nothing to boast of.

Then Governor Aminu Bello Masari showed up and everything changed.

The governor was in the village to visit about 3000 internally displaced persons or IDPs fleeing Zamfara State amidst complaints of neglect and starvation. Dansabau village is located in the remotest part of the state and shares a boundary with Zamfara.

The IDPs took refuge in the village, having escaped banditry attacks in Zamfara, their home state, where most of their relatives were killed or maimed in the wake of the attacks.

The governor who went in company of the Secretary of the State Government (SSG) Mustapha Inuwa, officials of the state relief agency, SEMA, local government officials and traditional rulers, assured the refugees of a good taste of Katsina hospitality, care and protection from further attacks, adding that one of the key functions of every government is the maintenance of law and order.

He said, “I came to know your problems from your leaders, I have heard your story and those leading you here cannot handle the situation alone without help from government, we have heard and seen your problems and have ordered immediate action.”

Not a few people, particularly the media, who were on the governor’s entourage, agreed that the governor’s visit to the locality brought to the fore the degree of neglect the area had suffered for years.

Successive state and the federal governments made efforts in the past to provide some infrastructure for Dansabau but the lean resources of the governments essentially killed the plan.

The bane of societal development has always been lack of adequate infrastructure that could easily spur economic growth and further add value to the lives of the people. The situation is further heightened by the absence of the needed political, which has remained a constant factor that draws back the provision of infrastructure to the people.

Roads and other infrastructure

Thanks to the governor’s visit, a road is being built in Dansabau, and its people as well as those of adjoining communities are thrilled. The road has opened up the communities to trade and commercial activities as well as linked them to the local government headquarters.

Before the intervention of the state government through the construction of access road, the communities were using bush paths and transporting through camel backs, donkeys, and bicycles but now are using cars and other automobiles for their movements and other engagements

Abdullahi Farouk, 23, a motorcyclist, who joined the governor’s convoy as part of a welcome party, with his motorbike, told The Nation, that the entire communities were extremely pleased with the current administration in the state

He said, “We are happy that this government has remembered us, we will not forget this, this is the first time any sitting governor will come here and even build road and other things for us’’

Ibrahim Mohammed, 58, a local cleric, also told The Nation in Hausa, that he could not hide his joy on the rapid transformation the community is witnessing under the Governor Masari administration.

He said, “I am 58 years now, and all through my life no governor has ever visited this area not to talk about bringing development and relief to our people, we thank the governor for remembering us.”

In Katsina, road construction, for example, has been one of the keys used to open up the various communities to attain accelerated growth in the socio-economic activities of its populace, despite lean resources available to government

The present administration concentrated on building rural roads, rehabilitating or expanding others in order to link two or three more local governments within the cluster of communities in which the roads are sited.

The construction of Kankara-Zango-Dansabau and Dabai-Kahutu-Sundu roads has in no small measure opened up the rural areas and in the process ushered in civilization and rural development.

In addition, the roads have been constructed taking into consideration the provision of bridges, culverts, pedestrian walk-ways, solar street lights and drainages among others. Before the present administration in the state some of the communities in which these roads have been opened or reconstructed had never had it so good while in others had virtually been turned into death traps.

Several lives and property running into millions of naira had therefore been lost on such roads following fatal accidents. The current state government’s intervention in the provision of standard roads in critical areas that needed them the most, has continued to make a difference through saving the lives of passengers, pedestrians and other road users. It has also helped in opening up various communities, thereby eliminating disconnect and eventually connecting them socially, economically and politically.

Successive Katsina State governments knew that the state, being one of those ravaged occasionally by the yearly floods did not pay much attention in solving the perennial problems, unlike the Masari administration which has taken the bull by the horn in addressing the lack of drainages.

Power supply

Before the visit of the governor to Dansabau village, the people were living in the dark with no electricity to power any activity, which was why when they complained to their visitor there was an immediate response as solar lights were mounted at major corners of the community particularly the road leading into and out of the community

Also the government provided them electricity through connecting them to the national grid, the provision of additional transformers and the replacement of obsolete, broken down poles, transformers and electric cables.

Masari assured the citizens that his government would not relent in providing succor to them within the limited resources of the state government.

He said, “We are ready as governments to develop the rural areas and assist our people improve their standard of living. We intend bringing reliefs to their door step, and remove them from the abject neglect of the past to a more inclusive environment for the benefit of all’’

He further disclosed that the on-going road construction in the state is to link some of the troubled communities to the urban areas stating that the project if completed would reduce the security challenges being faced in the area and link the communities to the rest of the society

Health care centres

Another immediate intervention the community witnessed from the state government was the rehabilitation of the local primary health care facility in the area and the posting of medical personnel to man the center

A middle aged woman who simply identified herself as Asmau, thanked the government as the health facility has provided an immediate relief to expectant mothers who has had to travel distances by foot in search of medical attention

Education

Findings by The Nation indicate that earlier signs that the community had ever witnessed any form of development were seen by dilapidated classroom block that wore an ‘’ETF’’ inscription on the body of the building, which had left the pupils of the community with no school to attend

The governor’s response by ordering immediate rehabilitation of the schools in the area and the resuscitation of education received deafening applause from the crowd.

Other relics of abandonment include the fallen structures of the community post office block which from all indications had remained out of use for quite a while.

The warm reception given the governor who often waved to the cheering crowd from the window of his car, or at other times came down to physically meet them, left no one in doubt that he is indeed a grassroots man.

September 4, 2018
Olori Wuraola in new life

Olori Wuraola Otiti is someone who requires no introduction. Although she was by no means an unknown quantity before he got married to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, her ascension to the stool of the Queen of Ife has catapulted her to a height far above her wildest imagination.

In accordance with the goodies she now enjoys as the Ooni’s new wife, she has upgraded her fashion taste. She now rides in state-of-the-art cars, shops at posh designer stores home and abroad, and dons the latest jewellery and accessories.

The cousin of the executive director of Polo Avenue, Jennifer Obayuwana, has well and truly left the past behind. Where once she was just one of the people trying to stand out at events, she is now the main event at bashes and soirees.

Indeed, Olori Wuraola is living the good life.

May 20, 2017
New life for child-care centre

When parents needed a place to take their children with disability, the Child Care Trust (CCT) easily came to mind.

The Child Care Trust consists of critical facilities such as classrooms, health care centre, large playgrounds as well as vocational training centres. These facilities aim at providing best form of care and upbringing of special children. Its operations are more of a boarding school.

The facility is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), established by former First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo to cater for under-privileged children in the country. However, the once best rated school for the less-privileged in Africa is in dire need of revival.

•A part of the facility

Some of the facilities that made it so exceptional are almost moribund. The health centre, which was a point of attraction for children suffering from one health issue or another, is no longer active. Prior to this time, there were concerns over survival of the school after the death of Mr. Obasanjo. It was gathered that the school had to suspend operations due to funding challenges until three years ago. So, basically the supports are meant for up-keep of the pupils, including the hard at hearing and different categories of mentally challenged kids.

Situated in Bwari Local Council Area at the outskirts of Abuja, the school is tucked in a quiet environment, highly fortified with strong concrete fence. The fence is painted in white with a big tree right at the entrance of the premises. Aside from the presence of both uniformed security men and those on mufti, the entire premises were very tidy.

During a visit to the school, Abuja Review met the pupils during their lunch time. The first pupil who met our correspondent was Chisom Obi, a Primary four student. He was careful in his pace because he could hardly get his steps right, as he walked in a meandering manner.

After much effort, he managed to move some inches. On his face was an expression of someone who has been fed. He smiled out of the cafeteria as he approached our correspondent.

On his experience at the school, Chisom said: “I like this place. They take care of us very well and we eat three times a day…” Shortly after, the other pupils left the cafeteria for the alley. They were about 40 in number and of different ages, both male and female.

Some have hearing impaired while others could hardly see. Yet, they were so excited to welcome visitors. The youngest among them was little Success who is about six years old. She is fair in complexion and looks so innocent. She solely depends on crouches before she could walk.

Supports

In a chat with one of the senior members of staff of the school, it was gathered that the school depends on volunteers and supports from individuals and big schools in the territory.

Students of Durben Polytechnic, a higher institution in Bwari Local Council Area often celebrate their birthdays with the kids.

“This place is not an orphanage. All these children have parents. So, during the holiday, they go home and come back to school after the holiday. So, it’s not an orphanage home per se,” the Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Ojo said.

Continuing, she said: “We depend on volunteers in meeting our needs because the school is an NGO. So, with little supports from outside, we meet some of their needs.”

When the school was inaugurated in May, 2000 by the late philanthropist, she did not know the edifice will become derelict decades after. It was her dream that the school would make greater exploit and create lasting impression in the minds of millions of children with challenges.

Abuja Review further gathered that the son of the late Stella Obasanjo, Mr. Muyiwa Obasanjo, who is also the Chairman of the school, supported it immensely, the last time he visited from the United States. Prior to the visit, a Kubwa-based NGO, Solid Rock Foundation had visited the pupils.

Mr. Ojo acknowledged it has become an annual event for the foundation to visit the school. As for him, the foundation was always offering many relief materials, including foods, to support the children. Ironically, there was silent murmur when our correspondent inquired when last the former President visited the school. “Former President…?” One of the members of staff asked. “He has not visited this place since he left office. I think when the woman passed on was the end of his visit to this place.”

It was gathered that no tangible help comes from the family. “Nothing is coming from the family. The only support we got is from the Chairman of the school, who is the son of late Stella Obasanjo who doesn’t live in Nigeria but in US,” our source said.

Extra-curricular activities

•The children at play

Apart from regular normal school activities, the pupils were also engaged in vocational activities such as bead making. Others include salon and hairdressing and tailoring, among others.

The school authorities appealed to public-spirited individuals to help in training some of the students.

Alaba is the most popular student in the school. He is considered as one of the talented students who love drama and dancing. The 18-year-old boy, despite his situation, was willing to showcase his creative talent. Deliberate efforts are, however, being made to ensure their needs are met. There are plans to also visit corporate organisations and other related institutions to solicit supports for the school.

On staff motivation, the coordinator said the organisation is trying its best. “When they are sick, we take them to the general hospital to see a doctor. We are actually short of funds and that’s why we cannot employ medical personnel,” Ojo, who suggested that actors and artistes could promote the centre through their activities and songs, said.

“Empress once came to take pictures with them some time ago and during December, 2014, the artiste invited them to a party to celebrate with her, he said.” Expectations are, however, high that the Federal Ministries of Education and Youth Development would consider addressing some of the needs of the school as private individuals could unite to reposition the Child Care Trust.

March 17, 2015
New life for neglected school

it may shock the missionaries that the school they founded 42 years ago started declining shortly after they left. The paints started fading off, walls cracking and creaky furniture not replaced.

In time, goats and other livestock found a veritable hibernating ground and would endlessly chew their cud there without any hindrance. Teachers and pupils feared the roof might suddenly cave in on them.

Everyone was worried about the fate of Garam District Community School, where many children of workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) studied.

No one looked its way, not the state government nor federal authorities. That left the community chief and residents with huge responsibilities. They kept making requests for assistance. No one answered.

Now, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has scaled back the rot by renovating the institution and everyone is happy again. Supporting the Commission, was the Niger State government.

Until recently, there had been misconceptions concerning the jurisdiction under which the community belonged. Some believed it was under the supervision of Bwari Local Council of the FCT while others considered it a district in Niger State.

The traditional ruler, Esu Garam Tafa, Chief Sabo Philip clarified the situation, revealing that the community made up of over 500,000 residents was actually under Tafa Local Government in Suleja Emirate Council of Niger State.

During a visit to the school, a portion of the dilapidated structure was still standing but clearly showed it may collapse any time soon. However, four blocks of classrooms, gave the school a fresh appearance.

The atmosphere really depicted a school environment with a large field, good toilet facility and staff rooms.

Some of the students were in class when Abuja Review visited. Aside from good educational materials such as furniture, the classrooms were equipped with standard teaching aids, thanks to UBEC.

The Head Teacher, Mr. Patrick Joseph told our correspondent that there was need to provide more teachers aside from those already employed by the Niger State government.

Mr. Patrick said it was imperative considering the new development of deploying federal teachers to schools. For him, the gesture would not only complement efforts of the existing workforce but will also improve the learning ability of the students.

“Before this school was renovated, we could not stay in any of the classrooms, let alone teach the pupils because of the fear of sudden collapse of the building. But after it was fixed, we were happy, even to teach the pupils,” Joseph, who further appealed for more infrastructural facilities and perimeter fencing of the school said.

“We are looking forward to seeing if the school could be fenced. We need more teachers. We were taken unawares by the Federal Government through the UBEC. They formally informed us about the school renovation. Before the renovation, the school was totally dilapidated. Goats were sleeping and mating there and we could not use the blocks. But today, it’s the most cherished block as you can see.

“We thank the Federal Government for the gesture. We hope to see more developments such as fencing of the school, more furniture and more qualified teachers since the Federal Government is now posting federal teachers to complement the regular ones,” he said.

Monarch explains

The traditional ruler described the renovation of the school as the most significant achievement ever recorded after resuming leadership in the past eight years. But he added that it was the least government could do for the community.

The school was built by missionaries who did a follow-up on one of the villagers. The villager had visited another community where the missionary domiciled. However, after being introduced to Christianity, they sought to pay him a visit in Garam community where they eventually realised the need to build a church followed by the school.

“I was in primary school when the first six classrooms were built. At the commencement of the 6-3-3-4 education system of education, four more classrooms were built.

“It was in September last year that we mounted great pressure on government to renovate our ancient primary school that our forefathers built. My father was on the throne then.

“So, it’s been long because I entered primary school in 1977 and already the school was in existence. The missionaries came to settle in Dikko and extended to Garam community. We used to go there for treatment. So, from there, one man gave his life to Christ. They had to follow him down to this place and built a church and a primary school,” the monarch said.

He further said that since the renovation of the school, government had built a senior secondary school and a permanent site had been provided where more classrooms had been built. He urged the appropriate authorities to provide more

teachers, classroom blocks and perimeter fencing for their schools.

“People are beginning to encroach on the school land; claiming it belongs to their forefathers. If the school is fenced, no one will want to lay claim to its land.

“It is an ancient primary school that we are proud of and we don’t want anybody to take it away from us. Our great forefathers gave the land for the school, so government should come to our aid to do the fencing,” he pleaded.

On discrepancies about the territory, the traditional ruler said: “I want to state it clearly that this community is under Niger State government. It is only part of Kuduru that is under Abuja. Most of Kuduru communities are also part of Niger State.”

Needs

The Garam traditional ruler stressed the need for potable water in the school.

“You can see how large this community is; unfortunately, we don’t have water. There is no river around. So, all we depended upon is borehole being operated on commercial scales,” he said.

For him, the need for water was the paramount necessity the community craves. He said the community occasionally lacks water, especially when the commercial boreholes get damaged.

“Those that have money to sink borehole in their compound often come to the rescue in those periods of scarcity. This is one thing our people are crying out for,” the monarch added.

The community is hopeful that by the time the Ushafa dam is completed; the community would also have access to potable water.

Apart from lack of water, Garam community also lacks health care facilities. The traditional ruler said the community has only one national primary health care centre.

The centre, according to residents, lacked adequate staff, drugs and resident doctors. For the past seven months, security officials engaged by the local government council to safeguard the PHC were yet to be paid. The PHC is close to the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna rail project which passed through the community.

It was gathered that in extreme health situation, residents go as far as two hours journey to the town to get proper medical attention, just as the traditional ruler complained of insufficient health officials in the centre.

A visit to the PHC confirmed the situation. Abuja Review gathered that the hospital has about three personnel; two women and a young man. Unfortunately, the Medical Director and the Chief Matron were not available for comments.

“We lack so many things here. There is no manpower. We need drugs even a permanent doctor that will be here with us. If we have a serious situation that is more than their capacity, we always run to Bwari or Wuse General Hospital,” the traditional ruler said.

The doctor in charge of Garam PHC, Dr. Ahmed Bako described access to water as a major challenge. He lamented over shortage of power as well as security. The chairman of the local council responsible for the facility up-keep had made promises which were yet to be fulfilled.

“Our serious need is water because as a hospital, we cannot do without it.

Most times, we operate in darkness because we lack electricity here. Our watchmen have not been paid in the past seven months. So, our security apparatus is porous. I have the opportunity to meet the deputy chairman but he promised to do something about it,” Bako said.

For decades, after so many years of making requests for the construction of a police post in Garam, the community never had any.

“For about 30 years,” said the community ruler, we never had any police post.

“We have written severally to the Niger State Commissioner of Police, through the Divisional Police Officer of Tafa but nothing was done until recently when it was approved,” he said.

“Even if you bring thousands of security men, it is God that determines safety. So, we have been in the hands of God for protection.”

February 17, 2015
New skills, new life for the needy

You can call it a haven for the needy. It is tucked inside the calm setting of Kakuri in Kaduna metropolis. It looks somewhat ungainly, and you could walk past it several times without taking notice. Yet, that is where young people with disability find peace and a new life.
At the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Centre, physically challenged youths are acquiring skills to enhance their lives by maximising their potentials rather than resorting to begging for alms. Various vocations ranging from tailoring to knitting, typewriting and craft-making, among others, are taught at the centre. The programme aims to help depopulate the large army of disabled persons on the streets.
Investigations revealed that the Kaduna State government is working in collaboration with some development partners to empower the trainees with skills and formal education as well as funds to help them set up their own business after the training.
But the efforts may not yield the desired result unless the govermment ensures that the items produced by the trainees are bought by government agencies and other organisations. For example, it was gathered that visually impaired trainees at the centre produce high-quality garden chairs which could be used in recreation centres and government offices as visitors’ chairs.
An official of the centre who would rather not be named “because we don’t have permission from the government to speak to the press”, said the slogan of the centre is “there is ability in disability”.
The government’s journal produced by the state Ministry of Information, Newscope, quoted the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Board, managers of the centre, Mrs. Murna Bawa, as saying that skills like knitting, welding, hairdressing, shoemaking, pomade making, animal husbandry and many more are taught at the centre, pointing out that the board is working towards enhancing the living standard of the trainees in order to make them self-reliant and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.
She said further that the board is helping to integrate the physically challenged into the society through the various programmes of the centre.
The Kakuri centre is not the only place where the physically challenged are being integrated into the society along with other able-bodied persons. There is another centre.
It was also gathered that through their association, the physically challenged are working with the centre to correct the notion by society that they are redundant and can only beg for alms and should therefore be isolated. Their determination has reduced drastically the number of physically challenged persons on the street, begging for alms, especially the younger ones. Susan Istifanus, one of the trainees, was effusive with praises for the management and trainers at the center. She was hopeful that her training will help her earn a decent living.
“Before I came to the centre for training, I thought all hope was lost,” she said. “Everyday, I see people like me on the street daily begging for alms. But here I am learning a trade and I have been told that when we graduate from here, the government will assist us in setting up a small business of our own. I am very happy because very soon, I will graduate and have a business of my own and then, I can help my family. It is really a good thing that we are here. The only problem is that there are a lot of things that we need here that are not available and the centre needs a lot of money to achieve what it is established to do.”
Though founded and primarily by the state government, the centre has received assistance from international partners and many others like Sight Savers International, wives of local government chairmen, wives of legislators and Rotary Club. Donations to the centre by these organisations, according to officials of the centre, are what have kept the centre going.
Items made by the students are often on display either at the centre or at the board headquarters located about five kilometres from the centre.
Established in 1980 by the Balarabe Musa administration, the nation gathered that the centre has graduated several skilled physically challenged persons and empowered them with both capital and material resources and are monitored by a committee to ensure that they comply with the conditions given to them in establishing their businesses. This responsibility is assigned to the social welfare department of the various local government councils. Interestingly, many others are reabsorbed to work with community based workshops to train others in the various community based rehabilitation centres established in 11 of the 23 local government councils across the state. Although government officials and officials of the rehabilitation Board would not speak to The Nation on the activities of the centre, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Women Affairs, Hauwa Umar was quoted as saying that the government has shown so much concern about the students of the centre and work to integrate them into the larger society. She was also quoted as saying that despite limited resources, the centre has made serious efforts at training the students who have been producing high quality garden chairs, shoes, tricycles, cardigans and other items which are often displayed at the annual Kaduna International Trade Fair in other to expose them to the international market.
Officials of the centre believe that rather than give contract for schools chairs and table to contractors, the government can encourage the students and graduates of the centre to do better by ensuring that the Ministry of Education, the state Universal Basic Education Board and local government councils patronise the chairs and tables produced by the students and other graduates of the centre. This, they believe will go a long way in encouraging the graduates and many other physically challenged persons still roaming the streets to go to the centre for training. They officials of the centre believe that with such a directive, the centre is capable of generating enough revenue to run the place and improve on the training offered by the centre.
Sources at the centre, however, said that the medical needs of the trainees are not adequately attended to as only one chief nursing officer is available to attend to their needs.
There is however the need to have a medical doctor and possibly a physiotherapist to attend to the special need of the trainees and other students of the centre. They believe that due to their disability, many of them are sometimes does not want to relate with others, but when a therapist is employed to attend to them, it will bring them out of their shell to exhibit their talent. Aside from that, they claimed that inadequate staffing is another problem confronting the institution.
A senior official of the Rehabilitation Board appeal to the government to consider the centre and its students for inclusion in the empowerment programme of the government through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. While lamenting that the first batch of 7600 beneficiaries of the SURE-P programme did not include the physically challenged being trained at the centre, the official said “these people need this encouragement. You can imagine how many of them will be taken off the street if the government decided to include them in the programme. But the first one was done without them. We think that the government should strongly consider them for the second phase. Also, this centre has the capacity to train able bodied people. So, the government should also include the centre among the consultants carrying out the training. We have better equipped workshops, even better than some of those already involved in the training. When this is done, we can generate revenue for the running of this centre. You can see that we have a very big space here which is currently under utilised. So, if we are given such a responsibility, we can adequately utilise this place. I think the government should give it a serious though”.

April 29, 2014
New skills, new life for the needy

You can call it a haven for the needy. It is tucked inside the calm setting of Kakuri in Kaduna metropolis. It looks somewhat ungainly, and you could walk past it several times without taking notice. Yet, that is where young people with disability find peace and a new life.

At the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Centre, physically challenged youths are acquiring skills to enhance their lives by maximising their potentials rather than resorting to begging for alms. Various vocations ranging from tailoring to knitting, typewriting and craft-making, among others, are taught at the centre. The programme aims to help depopulate the large army of disabled persons on the streets.

Investigations revealed that the Kaduna State government is working in collaboration with some development partners to empower the trainees with skills and formal education as well as funds to help them set up their own business after the training.

But the efforts may not yield the desired result unless the govermment ensures that the items produced by the trainees are bought by government agencies and other organisations. For example, it was gathered that visually impaired trainees at the centre produce high-quality garden chairs which could be used in recreation centres and government offices as visitors’ chairs.

An official of the centre who would rather not be named “because we don’t have permission from the government to speak to the press”, said the slogan of the centre is “there is ability in disability”.

The government’s journal produced by the state Ministry of Information, Newscope, quoted the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Board, managers of the centre, Mrs. Murna Bawa, as saying that skills like knitting, welding, hairdressing, shoemaking, pomade making, animal husbandry and many more are taught at the centre, pointing out that the board is working towards enhancing the living standard of the trainees in order to make them self-reliant and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.

She said further that the board is helping to integrate the physically challenged into the society through the various programmes of the centre.

The Kakuri centre is not the only place where the physically challenged are being integrated into the society along with other able-bodied persons. There is another centre.

It was also gathered that through their association, the physically challenged are working with the centre to correct the notion by society that they are redundant and can only beg for alms and should therefore be isolated. Their determination has reduced drastically the number of physically challenged persons on the street, begging for alms, especially the younger ones. Susan Istifanus, one of the trainees, was effusive with praises for the management and trainers at the center. She was hopeful that her training will help her earn a decent living.

“Before I came to the centre for training, I thought all hope was lost,” she said. “Everyday, I see people like me on the street daily begging for alms. But here I am learning a trade and I have been told that when we graduate from here, the government will assist us in setting up a small business of our own. I am very happy because very soon, I will graduate and have a business of my own and then, I can help my family. It is really a good thing that we are here. The only problem is that there are a lot of things that we need here that are not available and the centre needs a lot of money to achieve what it is established to do.”

Though founded and primarily by the state government, the centre has received assistance from international partners and many others like Sight Savers International, wives of local government chairmen, wives of legislators and Rotary Club. Donations to the centre by these organisations, according to officials of the centre, are what have kept the centre going.

Items made by the students are often on display either at the centre or at the board headquarters located about five kilometres from the centre.

Established in 1980 by the Balarabe Musa administration, the nation gathered that the centre has graduated several skilled physically challenged persons and empowered them with both capital and material resources and are monitored by a committee to ensure that they comply with the conditions given to them in establishing their businesses. This responsibility is assigned to the social welfare department of the various local government councils. Interestingly, many others are reabsorbed to work with community based workshops to train others in the various community based rehabilitation centres established in 11 of the 23 local government councils across the state. Although government officials and officials of the rehabilitation Board would not speak to The Nation on the activities of the centre, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Women Affairs, Hauwa Umar was quoted as saying that the government has shown so much concern about the students of the centre and work to integrate them into the larger society. She was also quoted as saying that despite limited resources, the centre has made serious efforts at training the students who have been producing high quality garden chairs, shoes, tricycles, cardigans and other items which are often displayed at the annual Kaduna International Trade Fair in other to expose them to the international market.

Officials of the centre believe that rather than give contract for schools chairs and table to contractors, the government can encourage the students and graduates of the centre to do better by ensuring that the Ministry of Education, the state Universal Basic Education Board and local government councils patronise the chairs and tables produced by the students and other graduates of the centre. This, they believe will go a long way in encouraging the graduates and many other physically challenged persons still roaming the streets to go to the centre for training. They officials of the centre believe that with such a directive, the centre is capable of generating enough revenue to run the place and improve on the training offered by the centre.

Sources at the centre, however, said that the medical needs of the trainees are not adequately attended to as only one chief nursing officer is available to attend to their needs.

There is however the need to have a medical doctor and possibly a physiotherapist to attend to the special need of the trainees and other students of the centre. They believe that due to their disability, many of them are sometimes does not want to relate with others, but when a therapist is employed to attend to them, it will bring them out of their shell to exhibit their talent. Aside from that, they claimed that inadequate staffing is another problem confronting the institution.

A senior official of the Rehabilitation Board appeal to the government to consider the centre and its students for inclusion in the empowerment programme of the government through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. While lamenting that the first batch of 7600 beneficiaries of the SURE-P programme did not include the physically challenged being trained at the centre, the official said “these people need this encouragement. You can imagine how many of them will be taken off the street if the government decided to include them in the programme. But the first one was done without them. We think that the government should strongly consider them for the second phase. Also, this centre has the capacity to train able bodied people. So, the government should also include the centre among the consultants carrying out the training. We have better equipped workshops, even better than some of those already involved in the training. When this is done, we can generate revenue for the running of this centre. You can see that we have a very big space here which is currently under utilised. So, if we are given such a responsibility, we can adequately utilise this place. I think the government should give it a serious though”.

April 29, 2014