By Oliver Nweke
Stakeholders in Jigawa State concerned about the welfare of Persons with disabilities have held a sensitisation/engagement meeting with public and private sector to intimate them on their roles in implementing Jigawa State disability law and the launch of disability trust fund.
The meeting held on 26th-27th July, 2021 and had participants from various facets of the society.
Some commitments made by participants from the Chamber of Commerce include slots for PWDs in any loan/grants that come through the chamber, free registrations for PWDs who want to set up a business or are into business, free technical support/consultations regarding their business.
Meanwhile the traditional leaders at the meeting agreed to reach out to any authority concerning disability matters or persons with disabilities, they also promised to support and advocate for the inclusion, accessibility and support to PWDs in their communities, those seeking for admissions in higher institutions and the NUC.
According to them they would also advocate for economic and agricultural support for PWDs while assuring that the traditional institutions support commitments toward realization of an inclusive society
NATOR which operates in the private sector pledged to provide employment opportunity for persons with disabilities, reduce transport fair for PWDs across the state.
However representative from the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) have agreed to address the issue of accessibility of ATM in Banks, to provide social support for PWDs through their Staff welfare support club annually
Some stakeholders at the event also promised to write a memo to the governor to remind him about his commitment to appoint persons with disability as advisers at both at the state and LGAs levels.
They also committed to engage the attorney general to monitor the process in MDAs while also advocating to communities on the need to buy into the project and own it.
Pension administrators at the meeting also called for the creation of awareness so that persons with disabilities have behavior change on their condition and engage in manufacturing and supplies of aids that would benefit their members.
Private schools were urged to consider free scholarship to PWDs, form a synergy between JONAPWD and their association for creating awareness among parents on the need to educate children with disabilities
Others like associations of tricycles and motorbikes (ACCOMORAN) also pledged to address the issue of extra charges to PWDs on transport fair and called for the need of sensitization of health workers.
Table water producers were not left out as they promised to support persons with disabilities by employing PWDs in their factories.
Meanwhile stakeholders promised to design a software for registration of PWDs with all necessary classifications and train PWDs on entrepreneurship skills
There was emphasis on the need to impose on the private sectors to support vulnerable/communities under government supervision by creating a forum that will enable them brainstorm better.