The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Unique Icon Builders (UNIB) Foundation, A Non-Governmental Organization in Akwa Ibom State has empowered Persons with Disabilities in Oro Nation with 10 wheelchairs, 25 of crutches and 25 pieces of canes to aid PWDs in their mobility and accessibility, and over 100 pieces of wrappers .
Presenting the items to the beneficiaries at the Oron Civic Centre,Oron, Akwa Ibom State, the Founder of the foundation and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Chief (Mrs) Janet Amba said the materials were part of the NGO’s objectives aimed at empowering PWDs to be self-sustenance.
Mrs Janet Amba, who is also the immediate past President-General of Oron Union and the only female to occupy such prestigious position in Oron Nation World-wide, stated that “PWDs are humans and should be granted access to every facet of life, be it health, education, empowerment, justice and healthy livelihood.”
According to her, the NGO which berthed in 2017 in Abuja and launched in Akwa Ibom State in 2018, considers it imperative to assist the persons with disabilities to achieve their visions.
She said, “Many years ago, I felt it is time for me to give a little I have benefited from the society back to the society. So, I came up with this foundation. Initially, the idea was to bridge the gap for people that are not in any way opportune to live their lives to the peak, but after my first and second outings, I came in contact with our brothers and sisters who are with disabilities.
“I met with the deaf, the blind, the physically challanged and I saw that these people are very intelligent, very brilliant, very energetic and ready to work and contribute their quota to the betterment of the society and the environment they are living. So, I decided that every year my foundation would identify with them. And as you know, charity begins at home. So,I started with the five local government areas of Oro Nation. This is what we do every year. We eat, dine and dance together and that gives me a lot of satisfaction.
“Our NGO is focusing on helping people to reach their peak, to fill in the gap of whatever challenges they may have and I’m glad that by God’s grace we have been able to do this over the years.
“We’re also focusing on mentorship of the male and girl child. My focus is to mentor and assist young men and women who may be ignorant or lack knowledge of what they could do. So, the foundation is out to help reform character, mentor, groom and support young ones. And I have done that for a lot of young women even before I came into the SMEs sector in Akwa Ibom State.
“UNIB have helped a lot of persons, both male and female. After grooming such selected individuals, we empower them with skills and finace, and monitor to make sure ones reach their peak . this is the mission of our foundation.
Mrs Amba used the opportunity to call on wealthy individuals to assist the less privileged in order to reduce the high rate of poverty in the society.
“You don’t need to own the entire world before you give a little to the society. You don’t need to have everything to share some. So, if you have a little, please give it to your neighbor. One Thousand Naira can go a long way. It is good to give. The Bible says ‘there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving,’” the SSA added.
She stated that the gesture of the foundation was in line with the Dakkada philosophy of Udom Emmanuel-led administration.
Speaking at the event, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small Scales Industrialists (NASSI), Mr Richard Wilson who pledged partnership with the NGO, promised that NASSI will train persons with disabilities in various skills as part of her support to the humanitarian gesture of the foundation.
Also speaking, the Special Guest of Honour at the event, Mr Ide Owodiong, Coordinator of 1001 Plus Voices Initiative for People Empowerment, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) lauded the gesture of Mrs. Janet Amba to give special attention to the plight of the vulnerable in the society especially persons with disabilities.
Mr Owodiong, who described the gesture as a testimony of a good heart of Mrs Janet Amba for humanity made a case for government at all levels to give the PWDs a rightful place as active and vibrant members of the society by implementing the Disability Act.
The Commissioner for Transport and Solid Minerals, Rt Hon Uno Etim Uno,who was represented at the event by Mr Nkereuwem Utok, thanked Mrs Janet Amba for touching the lives of the less privileged in the society, saying that “There is no greater religion than human service.”
The beneficiaries expressed their deep gratitude to Mrs. Janet Amba and the foundation for making them feel proud of their conditions by putting smiles on their faces through the kind gesture and prayed God to bless her.
