… promises to create disability enterprise clusters
By Lanre Oloyede
Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Monday demonstrated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity and equal opportunities as he pledged to support the Beyond Disability Project with the sum of one billion naira.
The number two citizen made the pledge at the Inter-Ministerial and Subnational Disability Awareness Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall Presidential Villa Abuja.
The event, which served as the launch of the Beyond Disability Project, an initiative of the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa that seeks to transform over 5000 lives of Persons With Disabilities, also witnessed the unveiling of the Nigerian Persons With Disabilities Database NPWDD and the National Disability Trust Fund, NDTF.
Senator Shettima, who was represented by the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, noted that the Beyond Disability Project is not just an initiative, but a powerful symbol of President Tinubu’s government’s commitment to unleashing the talents in every Nigerian especially the 35.1 million incredible persons with disabilities.
Dr. Ibrahim stated that through this project, the federal government plans to demonstrate its dedication to creating a society where every individual regardless of their physical or mental challenges can achieve their full potentials to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth .
She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all his efforts towards Inclusion of persons with special needs, stressing that beyond appointing an SSA on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, President Tinubu has a track record of being inclusive of people with special needs, adding that as governor, he established LASODA, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs.
Dr Ibrahim added that shortly before he appointed the SSA, the president signed the African charter of demands for the right of persons with disabilities which was a testament of his commitment to the well-being of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria.
“When Hon Mohammed Abba Isa assumed office as SSA on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, the vision and mandate was clear: to empower PWDs. Today, empowering 5000 PWDs is just the beginning. This is a movement that should be driven by all of us, because no one is above disability, as everyone is minutes away from disability. So, if we create enabling environment for PWDs we are only creating enabling environment for ourselves.
“As the vice president, I pledge a contribution of 1 billion baira to the Disability Trust Fund but this has to be closely monitored and supervised. The Funding mechanism will be the Youth investment fund and the presidential initiative on youth enterprise clusters.
“We want to work with you to build clusters for PWDs, to build clusters that will lead to enterprise so your database is important,” Dr. Ibrahim stated.
The Ministers who was moved to tears with the exceptional performances by some of the talented PWDs including
Samuel Gabriel the musician and Phoenix the Saxophonist, said they are “the next wonder of our generation.”
In his welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa stated that the objective of the Inter-Ministerial Summit was to create awareness and to address issues facing the community of PWDs that require a multifaceted approach.
Hon. Abba Isa added that aside the launch the Beyond Disability Project, the summit was also meant to unveil the Nigerian Persons With Disabilities Database NPWPD.
The presidential aide decried the situation where PWDs don’t have disaggregated and reliable data.
Stressing the importance of data, the SSAP maintained that data is life, saying that data is required to assist government in planning and implementation of programs.
“The objective of the Beyond Disability Project is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is all inclusive targeting eradication of hunger and poverty, financial prosperity, and security, all these have multiplier effect on the community of PWDs .
“The Beyond Disability is all about harnessing the talents God deposited in PWDs . This project is meant to fill the employment and industrial gap. This project will create 5000 jobs through talents discovery and development in the creative industry and generate 36,551 job opportunities for PWDs in the implementation stage,” the SSAP stated.
The presidential aide, who stated that his office can’t achieve all these objectives in isolation, called for collaboration, partnership and support from well meaning Nigerians and development partners.
Hon. Abba Isa also used the occasion to recognize and honour his benefactor and late governor of Yobe State , Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim,who supported and sponsored all his medical treatments following injuries sustained in a motor accident that confined him to a wheelchair.
The SSAP noted that though Senator Ibrahim is no longer with but his wife Hon. Hajia Khadija Abba Ibrahim, a member of the house of representatives, who was present as a special guest of honour was recognized and celebrated by the teeming crowd.
Also speaking, National Coordinator of Beyond Disability Project, Mr Stephen Rodstick, stated that: “We have 35.1 million PWDs in Nigeria, when their talents are harnessed and developed, they are going to contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria and to the realization of an inclusive society. Inclusivity is not limited to provision of ramps or jobs for the PWDs but making them become self-reliant.
“These people are very talented and gifted but there’s no platform to showcase and explore their God-given talents. When the talents of these 35.1 million PWDs are fully harnessed it will add to the GDP and IGR of the country.
“The project will establish vocational centres in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. It will generate 36,511 employment opportunities for PWDs in Nigeria. The project will have 36 state coordinators, 774 local government coordinators as well as zonal and ward coordinators.”
Mr Rodstick called on the society, government, private sector and development partners to take advantage of this project to bring about positive change in the society and reduce poverty in the country and create wealth.
In their goodwill messages, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese Ignatius Kaigama and the Chief Imam of Ansarmasjid Maiduguri, Mallam Goni Usman urged the people to always have empathy towards the vulnerable and the less privileged.
On his part, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Disability, Dr. Bashir Dawodu, gave assurance that the national assembly would be sensitive in making laws that would accommodate all.
The summit witnessed massive crowd of participants and special guests who filled the entire state house banquet hall as well as various spectacular display of performances by PWDs.
Highlights of the event included presentation of awards to distinguished Nigerians and advocates of disability inclusion such as Dr. Mrs Adenike Tejuosho, founder of Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation, Queen Irene Onwuka, Founder of Queen Irene Onwuka Peace foundation among others.
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