By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend commemorated the International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to recognize the dignity, achievements and essential contributions of Nigeria’s over 25 million Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in sports, commerce, academics among others.
The theme of the commemoration is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: The role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.”
The party, in a statement by Hon. Tolu Bankole , APC NWC member and national leader PWDs, said: “APC led administration under President Muhammadu Buhari has particularly played an important role in tackling the range of challenges confronting the disabilities community.
“President Buhari has assented to the Persons with Disabilities Bill, and other intervention programmes to alleviate the plight of PWDs in Nigeria. APC been a friend of PWDs have strongly and consistently advocated for the inclusion and improvement of lives of PWDs which led to the free nomination form for all PWDs aspirants in the 2022 APC primaries at all levels.”
“As the leader of PWDs, I disbursed grants and empowerment to women and men in different PWDs clusters nationwide to engender financial inclusion. Bursary and scholarships were awarded to PWDs students across the country while I paid for GCE forms of hundreds of SSS 3 students to drive home our call for educational inclusion.
“I organised and self-sponsored the first PWDs National summit at NICON Hilton Abuja where far reaching resolutions have been forwarded to the appropriate authorities for prompt actions.
“Indeed, government must do more for us. States who are yet to domesticate the PWDs Act, 2020 must do so urgently. We call for:
• Financial inclusion of PWDs
• Accessibility and economic development and empowerment of PWDs.
• Education and health services at affordable cost to PWDs
• Scholarship and bursary
• Insurance policy at affordable cost
• Political inclusion as ministers, commissioners and board members of government MDAs.
“This year’s International Day of Persons With Disabilities occurs in our build up to the general election. I am pleased to share that the Presidential candidate of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will prioritize these concerns of persons with disabilities if elected in 2023 as outlined in his Renewed Hope manifesto.
“Unlocking the full potential of Persons With Disabilities by breaking down the systemic barriers that limit their full participation in society is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do.
“Again, we celebrate all PWDs for their resilience and readiness to excel despite the challenges. No doubt we are people with determination not disability. I urge all PWDs to vote for all APC candidates in the 2023 general elections for inclusive development.”
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