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Tag: physically challenged

  • Fashola advocates laws to protect physically-challenged

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend urged lawmakers to make laws to make life easier for the physically-challenged.

    Fashola spoke at the wedding reception of Abdul Al-Makura, son of Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, who has hearing challenges.

    He said people with disabilities are special and should be encouraged to reach their full potential.

    Fashola, who chaired the occasion, said: “I appeal to everyone to be sensitive to the plight of those with disabilities. They are special people and we need to provide for their special needs.

    “I urge states that have not enacted a law protecting people with disabilities to do so.”

    Describing the reception as an “international and inter-party event”, he wished the couple a blissful marriage.

    Supervising the cutting of the cake, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, urged the groom to “respect, love and believe” in his wife.

    She said: “To you my daughter, submit, obey, support and respect your husband. Do not involve a third party in your affairs and do not report your husband to your mother or his mother.”

    The groom, who lost his hearing when he was four to Lassa fever, met his wife, Anisa, who also has hearing challenges, at the Galodet University, where they both study.

    The governors of Kogi, Katsina, Gombe, Niger, Imo, Bauchi and the bride’s family from Pakistan, were also at the event.

  • 2015: Jega rules out ballot papers for physically-challenged

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega yesterday ruled out the printing of ballot papers with brailles for physically-challenged Nigerians in the 2015 general elections.

    Speaking at the Validation Conference for INEC’s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan in Abuja, Jega, who reiterated his desire to create an enabling environment for stakeholders to partake in the country’s electoral process, said it is no longer possible to produce ballot papers with brailles for physically-challenged persons in the 2015 election.

    But he promised that despite the constraints, INEC would ensure that persons with disabilities participate in the poll.

    He said: “We will strive to meet the need of all stakeholders to make the election environment friendly for stakeholders and participants, especially those with disabilities. There are systemic challenges that are beyond our powers to deal with.

    “We will do everything possible within our limits to improve the electoral environment so that it is friendly to people with disabilities. In the guideline that we issued for the elections since 2011, we have ensured that our workers are well trained to provide assistance to anybody with disability in the polling units.

    “We are aware that most of our polling units are in public places and schools that do not have ramps that can enable the physically-challenged access these polling units. We are constrained in proving ramps in schools and we don’t even have the funding to provide ramps. These are some of the systemic issues.

    “There has to be a national policy so that all public places must have ramps to enable physically-challenged people access facilities. Otherwise, if we expect INEC to provide ramps, it is impossible to do so. We don’t have the resources. We cannot even go to such places to start with. It is also impossible to produce ballot papers with brails in our polling units.

     

  • Lagos to provide car parks for physically-challenged

    The Lagos State Government is to provide designated areas for the physically-challenged at public and private car parks.

    The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, made this known when board members of Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs visited him.

    In a statement signed by Mrs. Bunmi Olowu-Adekoya, he assured that the state government has ensured the protection of the physically challenged in the 2010 Physical Planning Law, especially as it relates to building structures and regulations.

    Ayinde further said owners of petrol stations in the state have been advised to provide additional toilet facilities for physically challenged persons.

    He said the Ministry has proposed that any building above four floors should have a lift and convenient walkway or ramp for the physically challenged.

    He cited the recently renovated walkway of the Ministry, adding that it is good for the disabled.

    The Commissioner said his ministry will continue to ensure that buildings comply with the Physical Planning and Urban Development Law of 2010. He advised the Board members to acquaint themselves with the content of the Law, especially as it affects them if they have not done so.

    Chairperson of the Board Mrs Animashaun Tolulope, who praised the state government, said from indications, the administration has the interest of the physically challenged in mind.

  • Chaplain doles out support for the needy

    Penultimate Sunday, about 50 physically challenged persons and widows had reasons to smile as a non-denominational outreach, GIPEC College of Chaplain, doled out six wheel chairs, food items, household chores, blankets and cash award to celebrate Nigeria 52nd Independent Day in Lagos.

    Speaking at the event, The Chief of Chaplain, GIPEC College of Chaplain, Bartholomew Diamanozie, said that the humanitarian gesture is set out to give hope to the hopeless and the needy in our society.

    Diamanozie said that the only way to celebrate the independence day is to remember those in need of our care and support to live a better lives.

    He said that the church remains the hope of the common man as the world faces the cries of neglect, marginalisation, violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties.

    He went ahead to charge federal and state governments to embark on developmental project that will ameliorate the suffering of the rural poor in Nigeria.

    He said that there are huge potentials and opportunities arising from economic policies and reforms agenda that touch the needs and aspirations of the citizens.

    According to him, the only way to achieve spontaneous growth and development in Nigeria is when our leaders are ready to shun all forms of corrupt practices and exhibit selfless service to the people within their constituencies.

    He said that Nigeria may soon become the mockery of nations if greed, theft, bribes being perpetuated among the elite few in public and private spaces remain unchecked.

    Diamanozie said, “we are in trying times in the history of our country as millions of women and children are increasingly in need of shelter, clothing, food, access to qualitative health care, education to lead a normal life.”

    He said that although Nigeria is rich with immerse human and material resources that can cater for the need of all but it can only effectively achieve its potential when our leaders are people driven in their approach to governance.

  • Minister to help the physically challenged

    Minister to help the physically challenged

    Nigerians should be sensitised on the need to give equal opportunity to everybody, including the physically challenged, in order to build a compassionate society.

    The call was made by the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, in her office during a courtesy visit by members of Abuja Association of the Deaf.

    Oloye Akinjide decried the situation whereby the less privileged in the society are stigmatised and treated as second-class citizens.

    She said the quintessential performances of the physically challenged at the just concluded Paralympics has shown their commitment, discipline and dedication which essentially made them to put Nigeria’s name at the epicentre of the global map through their world breaking record.

    Oloye Akinjide added that President Goodluck Jonathan having recognised the historic achievement of the Nigerian contingent to the Paralympics, has decided to honour the athelets for making the country proud.

    Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation and chairman of Abuja Association of the Deaf, Mr Mabawonku Abdulwasiu, sought the minister’s assistance particularly in employment, economic empowerment, participation in sports and politics and equal treatment.

    Mr Abdulwasiu also called the minister’s attention to the imperative of government to provide sign language interpreters to interpret news on the NTA network news for the benefit of the deaf.

    He also requested the minister to assist the organisation towards the success of the forthcoming International Week of the Deaf (IWD) which will be celebrated in Abuja from October 13 to 20 .

    The association’s chairman remarked that there is need for minister’s intervention in the areas of quick passage of Disability Bill, establishment of disability desk in the FCT offices as well as provision of affordable housing and transportation to solve problems besetting his members.

    Replying, Oloye Akinjide who directed Social Development Secretariat under her ministry to look into the requests made by the ssociation with dispatch, also emphasised the essence of forging a partnership with the association in order to address their challenges.

    Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, was established in 1998.