No fewer than 600,000 members of the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) community in Adamawa State have called on Lami Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, wife of the state governor, to champion the passage and domestication of the bill for the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission currently before the State House of Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Yola, Jibrin Amzaranda, Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Blind Association, emphasized that the creation of the commission would go a long way in addressing the discrimination and marginalization faced by people with disabilities.
He noted that the bill, once passed, would mandate the government to provide critical support services such as access to healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and vocational training for PWDs across the state.
Amzaranda stressed that the appeal was timely, especially considering the impactful interventions being championed by the First Lady through her pet project, the Fresh Air Pro-Life Employment Foundation (FAPEF), which has significantly benefited many members of the disability community.
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“We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the numerous initiatives spearheaded by the First Lady through FAPEF. These interventions have provided relief and hope to many clusters within our community.
“However, the formal establishment of a Disability Rights Commission will institutionalize such support and guarantee long-term inclusion and protection for PWDs in the state,” he said.
He further explained that the PWD community in Adamawa is comprised of several clusters, including the physically challenged, lepers, persons with spinal cord injuries, individuals with albinism, those with intellectual disabilities, as well as the blind and deaf communities.
Stressing that, with the emergence of a new administration and fresh leadership in the state, he said, this is the right time to strengthen advocacy for inclusive governance.
Highlighting some of the recent support received from the First Lady, Amzaranda revealed that each of the PWD clusters across the 21 local government areas received significant empowerment items, including 20 motorcycles, 20 sewing machines, 20 grinding machines, and 20 refrigerators per cluster.
He also acknowledged the recent distribution of relief materials to 2,000 beneficiaries at the Special Education Centre in Jada Local Government Area, an event he described as a beacon of hope and resilience for the most vulnerable.
“In addition to these, Her Excellency has also extended monetary assistance to help some of our members expand their small-scale businesses,” he added.
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While commending the governor’s wife for her continued support, the PWDs coordinator appealed for her to go a step further by facilitating the employment of qualified persons with disabilities into government service.
According to him, meaningful employment remains one of the most sustainable ways to improve the socio-economic conditions of PWDs.
“We urge the state government to also consider instituting a five percent employment quota for PWDs, as part of affirmative action policies to alleviate the suffering and socio-economic exclusion of our members,” Amzaranda said.
He concluded by calling on members of the PWD community to reciprocate the kindness and support shown by the First Lady by remaining law-abiding, peaceful, and active participants in the development of the state.
