By Jack Acheme, Kano
Kano state government says People with Disabilities, (PWDs), having requisite qualifications, will benefit from the recently re-introduced state government overseas scholarship scheme.
The State Commissioner for Education, Alh. Umar Haruna Doguwa, made this known while responding to comments made by officials of Mercy Corps and Coalition of Disabled Self Advocacy Network Group, two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), who jointly visited him in his office.
He said the move is part of a design by the present administration to guarantee fairness and equal access to education for every indigene of the state, in line with international conventions.
“We will surely offer scholarships to those with First class and Second-Class Upper degrees, including those with disabilities, to encourage them to become productive citizens and live meaningful lives.
“The government will also look into the possibility of setting up inclusive schools in parts of the state, even as opportunity will be explored to provide inclusive facilities in existing public schools. This is to make sure that people with disabilities are carried along in our development plans,” he said.
He stressed that as part of determination to support PWDs, the state government recently offered 150 NECO examination registration forms to them, urging beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to ensure better living standard.
The Commissioner promised that the state government would not relent in working with NGOs to improve the well-being of the people, urging development partners to key into the administration’s policies and programs to ensure sustainable results.
Earlier, Nafisa Amadu Abubakar, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of Mercy Corps and some representatives of the physically challenged persons, urged the state government to support the organization to conduct a peace-building program in the state and ensure that the PWDs are not left out of the government’s developmental plans.
In a related development, the Commissioner for Education, Alh. Umar Haruna Doguwa, has assured that the state government would collaborate with development partners, to address the critical education needs of the state, especially in teachers’ professional development, girl-child education, education for vulnerable children and access to digital education.
He gave the assurance while receiving the founder and Executive Director of DBEGOTIN Educational Foundation, Mr. Jeremiah Oseni, who visited him in Kano.
