By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The chairman Kogi State chapter of National Association of Persons With Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), Comrade Hassan Sule Destiny on Friday in Lokoja called on NGOs, Philanthropists and government at all levels to provide persons with disabilities with motorized Wheelchairs and other accessibilities.
Comrade Hassan who made the call while marking this year’s international “Wheelchair Day” said it will facilitate easy movement of PWDs, given the rising cost of transportation and poverty-stricken members of the association who are mostly unemployed.”
He 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”.
The chairman appreciated their good partner in the United State, the Disability Rights Fund, for providing us the support to commemorate the annual celebration of IWD on March 1 every year.
Mr. Destiny disclosed 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.
He pointed out that the association will soon inaugurate the local government chapters of NAPWPD in 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the state to amplify their ‘voice’ in the state, “as we continue with our struggle for easy ‘accessibility’ for greater empowerment of our members”.
“The PWDs in the state cannot but thank the Disability Rights Fund for giving us the finances with which to organise the annual event and our national officers led by Comrade Ridwanu Mohammed Abdulllahi, whose exceptional leadership Inspire us to greatness as we propagate the ideals of NAPWPD to the grassroots in the state.”
The national officer of the association, Mr. Arome Ibrahim stressed the need for special allowances for the PWDs in civil service in order to make life easy for this category of deprived Nigerians who are limited by physical Disabilities.
The international Wheelchair Day is celebrated worldwide every month of March, to raise public awareness on the importance of Wheelchairs to accessibility of PWDs.
