By Inemesit Akpan-Nsoh, Uyo,
Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State have called for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and decision-making in the state.
They made the call during a four-day training organised by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government, for representatives of MDAs, CSOs and traditional and religious leaders in Eket Council of the state.
The stakeholders said persons with disabilities should participate in taking decisions that affect them, adding that the essence of the training was to help the state develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to ensure project initiatives that effectively address their needs.
According to them, persons with disabilities have the right and capacity to contribute to decisions affecting them.
In his remarks, Mr. Friday Jacob of the state Ministry of Information and Strategy frowned on the attitude of some Nigerians towards persons with disability, noting that they were usually discriminated against; while Miss Joy Ubong, a programme officer at Family Centre Initiative for challenge persons, appealed to the society not to pity persons with disabilities, but instead evolve programmes that would integrate them.
