By Chris Agbo
COVID-19 Pandemic has greatly affected the economy of many countries across the world and Nigeria is not an exception. The economic activities have been seriously hampered by the COVID-19 lockdown and unfortunately, persons with disabilities are mostly hit. Before now, PWDs are found to be the poorest of the poor and the situation is becoming worse going by the hardship imposed on them as a result of the measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Joseph Bulugbe is a visually impaired lawyer, the National General Secretary of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), the General Secretary of the Ogun State chapter of NAB, the South-West Cordinator of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria (JONAPWD) and the Public Relation Officer of the Abuja Chapter of Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN).
In his individual effort, he has reached out to some indigent persons with disabilities through cash transfers of 5,000 Naira each to 80 persons with disabilities selected across the southwest states.
We learnt that he made these transfers in two batches, late last month, 40 blind people got their alerts and on Tuesday, he extended the gesture to another 40 drawn mainly from other clusters of disability such as the deaf, physically challenged, etc.
In a chat with The Qualitative magazine, he said that the gesture is to cushion the effect of the lockdown order by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.
One of the beneficiaries, Peter Abiodun Tiamiyu from Kegbo area, Ijebuigbo in his appreciation for the gesture said the following.”The Law, This is my profound gratitude to you, for extending your kindness to me at Kegbo area, with the fantastic amount of N5,000 which was transferred to my account at the Polaris Bank, as you reach out to me and my family members during this lockdown and also giving to the needy during this month of Ramadan. I truly appreciate your concern and I promise to make judicious use of the money on my health and feeding”.
We learnt also that it is his wish to reach out to more persons with disabilities if he gets support/contributions of other good hearted Nigerians.
Please, see below the list of some beneficiaries as well as the bank transfer receipts:
