By Lanre Oloyede
In another milestone move towards realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda of bettering the lives of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa has reached another partnership agreement with Queen Irene Onwuka Peace Foundation to train and empower over 1000 PWDs through the Disability Capacity Building Project.
The partnership agreement was reached Friday when Queen Irene Onwuka led a delegation from her Foundation to pay a courtesy call on Hon. Abba Isa in his office in Abuja.
According to Queen Irene, the Disability Capacity Building Project was designed to identify and train about 1000 PWDs to acquire new skill set that will make them to become self-dependent and financially secured.
Queen Irene, who was an ex-beauty queen (Miss Ambassador for Peace Nigeria 2013 -2014) and now United Nations Peace Ambassador, submitted that the project which is proposed to hold from first week of September this year, is expected to create over 1000 jobs in the pilot phase.
The ex-beauty queen went further to explain why the project is quite unique and different from the usual charity approach where PWDs will be given gifts or cash awards and left abandoned, saying that this time around, they will be carefully selected, profiled and trained in various vocational skills suitable and peculiar to their disability needs.
She added that the vocational training will include cake making, digital marketing, CCTV camera installation, Data Analysis, jewelry making, fashion design, catering among many others.
According to her, the Queen Irene Onwuka Peace foundation, which focuses more on child development and women empowerment, has over the years, been extending hands of care to PWDs in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly the Karon-majigi Disability Community where it has undertaken many projects including renovating the Emir’s Palace.
“We are here to partner with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities on disability inclusion and Empowerment. My foundation is interested in partnering to create more job opportunities for PWDs through vocational training, Skill Acquisition and capacity Building and for their voices to be heard in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President,” Queen Irene stated.
Speaking on her passion for Persons With Disabilities, the ex-beauty queen explained that her passion for PWDs was motivated and inspired because of her friends that are disabled, adding that she sees and share their struggles, pains, cries and all that they pass through everyday.
In his remark, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa thanked Queen Irene and her delegation on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and over 35 million PWDs in Nigeria for the Humanitarian and charity work the foundation has been doing.
The Senior presidential aide noted that in the disability community, child development is a very critical issue .
The SSAP further noted that girls and children with disabilities face multiple challenges, stressing that one of the ways we can address these challenges is through partnership and collaboration like this .
The SSAP stressed that there was need to stop approaching disability Issues from the charity based perspective but rather from right-based approach.
The presidential aide commended Queen Irene for aligning herself with government at the highest level through his office is very, adding that it is through his office that the President will get to hear and know about what her foundation is doing in the disability community and the need for her to get presidential commendation and honour.
The SSAP noted that the objective of the project is in line with the vision and objectives of the Beyond Disability Project which shall be launched by Mr President on July 22 at the Presidential Banquet Hall Aso Villa.
According to the presidential aide, the Beyond Disability Project is aimed at discovering and harnessing the talents and potentialities of PWDs in the creative industry. The project also aims to empower over 5000 PWDs through talent development, educational support programs, and inclusive access, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act, 2018.
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