by Musliudeen Adebayo,
The Coordinator for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr. Wasiu Nurudeen has said a majority of persons with disabilities in the country, are still going through harrowing experiences.
Nurudeen made the disclosure when he spoke with DAILY POST on Thursday in Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2019.
The law prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in the areas of access to healthcare, education, employment, social life, economic and political participation.
Nurudeen, a former member of the Caretaker Committee in Ibadan North, has, however, said that most of the persons with disability in the state were still finding it difficult to access healthcare services, educational institutions, gain employment or participate in political activities, despite the signing of the prohibition act.
He said it was discovered that across all sectors which include transportation, housing, environment and education, people with special needs go through harrowing experiences to get services and that the situation requires urgent attention.
Nurudeen said without access to quality education and sustainable livelihoods, children with disabilities would not be able to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
He revealed that since the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999, there was no government that has the interest of physically challenged people like Governor Seyi Makinde.
He said, “I have discovered that across all sectors of our national life, which include transportation, housing, environment and education, people with special needs go through harrowing experiences that need urgent attention.
“Since the inception of the fourth Republic in 1999, no government has ever employed 150 persons with disabilities at a row in Oyo state.
“Without access to quality education and sustainable livelihoods, children with disabilities would not be able to contribute meaningfully to the economy but Governor Makinde has given us livelihoods by giving jobs to our people.
“And to this end, I thank Governor Makinde for giving us attention, there was no time there would be job opportunities in the state, that our people will not be given special consideration.
“I am bold to say that since the beginning of this present political dispensation in 1999, there was no government that has the interest of people with disabilities like Governor Makinde”.
