Sokoto State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) act.

It is now await the signature of the governor of the state, His Excellency Aminu Tawbuwal for the law to be fully domesticated.

The governor being a Disability friendly person who also appointed a person with disability as SSA on Disability matters, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, he is going to sign without delay.

Abdulazeez Ibrahim while speaking to TQM said that the law await the governor’s signature because he is friendly to PWDs and his actions towards this issue would not be any different.

TQM report,

Disability Rights Action Group [DRAG] have commended Lagos State Governor for promoting inclusive governance by appointment of Adenike Dasola Oyetunde as Senior Special Assistant on persons with disabilities,

In a press statement signed by Chukwu Chikwado, Executive Director, Disability Rights Action Group [DRAG] titled DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTION GROUP (DRAG) LAUDS SANWOOLU OVER APPOINTMENT OF SSA ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITY,

TQM report,

A 25 years old young man with physical disability, Ogaji Nicholas Ogaji lost everything that he has worked hard for in many years to fire.

Ogaji who hailed from Onyen-Okpon in Obubra LGA of Cross River State lost his means of livelihood when fire razed down his cosmetic shop at early hours on Sunday 07/02/2021.

The Face of the Shop before it got burnt

In the shop, he was selling provisions, boutique, cosmetic, general goods and it is also Paten Medicine store.

He has ran the the shop for 5 years before he lost his sweat at about 3.30am on Sunday according to sources but no life was lost.

Ogaji speaking to TQM in tears, called on the state government and well meaning individuals to come to his secure because he does not know how his life would look like without going back to his business. There is nobody or nothing to fall back to.

See the Video of the burnt shop:

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has inaugurated Abia State Steering Committee for Nationwide Youth Engagement Meeting with Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu as Chairman and Hon. Chinedu Henry Nwobilor, a person with physically disability representing of Abia state persons with disabilities in South east and at the federal level.

The Deputy Governor, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu representing the governor speaking at the conference room said that the formation of the Committee became necessary because the fall out of #EndSARS protests in the country which made it imperative that youths should be carried along in decision making of the country.

He noted that after the protests, the Federal Government and Sub-Nationals agreed to galvanize the youths so that they be engaged in various discourse at all levels.

He informed that the National Executive Council came up with modalities asking State Government to set up its various steering Committees so that once in awhile they can discuss issues that bother them as it affects employment, wellbeing among other issues.

He observed that with the composition of the Committee, which represents virtually all sectors, all interest groups should be protected and issues affecting them be highlighted so that those issues that caused the #EndSARS protests would no longer be there.

Part of the terms of reference as read out includes: “To establish an accessible, credible, structured and sustainable platform of engagement that will give the youth from local communities room to ventilate ideas for state-based positions in the State, Zonal and National discourse.

“To Integrate and gainfully engage youths in skill for participatory governance by contributing in broad areas and issues that require attention, like wealth creation, employment, education, youth development, security and governance.”

Responding on behalf of the Committee, the Chairman, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu, represented by Mr. Paddy Anyatonwu, pledged that the committee, being aware of its enormous tasks, would do their best to ensure total and meaningful engagement of the youths so as to realize their objectives.

The Committee is made up of Chinenye Nwaogu as Chairman, with Smith Sylvanus, Paddy Anyatonwu, Newman Ubani Ubani, Daniel Chinagozi, Comrade John Nwakanma, Comrade Hope Onyema SUG Abiapoly, Henry Nwobilor( PWDs representative), Ikenna Ogudimkpa, Nelson Nwafor
Chibueze Apugo APC Youth Leader, Patrick Onwuka PDP Youth Leader, Ms Ruth Uzoma, Ms Ngozi Ogbonna, Ms Bridget Mary Kalu, Dr. Uche Ogbuka, Charles Ogu and Kenneth Okeahialam as members.

The Deputy Chief of staff, office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Don Ubani, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Ikpeoha were among those present at the event.

Hon. Henry Nwobilor told TQM that he would do his best to represent the interest of persons with disabilities in the committee and always put forward issues that would better lives of persons with disabilities.

TQM report,

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) has concluded plans for the enumeration of the growing number of persons with disabilities in the country so as to achieve the aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari to find a pathway to one of the final solutions to the problem of insecurity in the country.

Chairman of the Governing Council, National Commission, Hon. Hussani Suleiman Kangiwa made this disclosure during the inaugural meeting of the Board in Abuja when he spoke with journalists after the opening session of the meeting.

In response to a question that bothered on the actual number of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, he said, “we have been using the figure that was estimated before now, but now, we think it would be wise for us to know our numbers.

“Many years ago, we were estimated to be over thirty-one million Persons with disabilities in Nigeria and very recently, we were informed that we have been estimated to be about thirty-five million in number.

“But if we want to consider the current happenings in the country, the activities of Boko Haram and those who were victims of communal clashes that are happening across the country as well as victims of accidents, we realise that the number must have risen to about fifty million if not more.

“We are witnessing these cases where more people are being amputated, many people are losing their sight and we have many of our compatriots joining us daily due to the realities around us.

“We have the number rising daily and we do not know who will join our group next.

“So, if we know how many we are, we will know the spread of our membership and know how to take them all out of poverty so they would not be used as elements to fuel insecurity in the country

“One of the cardinal objectives of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is to fight insecurity and that prompted him to sign the act that formed this Commission into law.

“We, therefore, owe this country a duty to follow the implementation of the laws that established this Commission according to its spirit and letters so that the Commission would be one of the legacies the President would bequeath to Nigerians when he leaves office after his term in office ” the Chairman said.

When asked about what the Commission would do to curb the menace of persons with disabilities who are earning a living as beggars, he appealed to them too, “we are aware of their activities and even those who had formed associations to beg for assistance from government agencies.

“It was when we saw the need to stop such activities that we pleaded with the government to form this Commission,

“Now that we have the Commission, we want to seize the opportunity of this medium to inform them all to come under the umbrella of the Commission so that we can all reap the benefits of this Commission.

“We express our profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving us this opportunity and acknowledge his eagerness to leave a mark of positive development in the lives of Nigerians.

“We also commend the amiable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq who continues to do a spectacular job of leading the government’s effort in this direction.

“Already, several programs under her Ministry have received worldwide acclamation for its impact on lives and on behalf of the Governing Council, our Commission promises to maintain this enviable standard in executing our mandate.

“In the coming days, we will set up the Governing Council to handle coordination and record-keeping of all the works of the Council.”Honourable Kangiwa maintained.

Other members of the Commission that attended the meeting that was presided over by Hon. Suleiman Kangiwa as the Chairman included Commissioner Representing the North West, Hon. Amina udu; Member Representing South

West, Hon. Omopariola Oluwanishole and the Member Representing South East, Hon. Oparaku Jaja.

Others were the Commissioner representing the North East, Hon, Abba Ibrahim; Member Representing the North Central, Mrs Esther Awu and the Member representing the South-South, Hon. Philomena Konwea.

Culled from Vanguard news

TQM report,

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, brought smiles on the faces of yet another group of indigent Lagosians as he presented cheques to beneficiaries at the 2nd edition of ‘Sanwo-Olu Listens’ initiative.

The scheme, which was designed to provide long-term financial assistance to vulnerable citizens in the State, is one of several social intervention programmes being implemented by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to bring relief to residents with adverse socio-economic conditions.

Speaking during the programme, held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, in strict compliance with all safety protocols, Governor Sanwo-Olu, affirmed that he would not shy away from making lives of the citizens of Lagos State better, adding that governance goes beyond providing security of lives and property for the citizens but ensuring the daily upkeep and welfare of the citizens.

“I am really delighted to be at this event and listened to some of the beneficiaries as they tabled their priorities. This is what government entails. Not only for the security of lives and property. We know you would face health challenges, house challenges, children school fees, etc. We intend to do our best to support and give succour to the vulnerable”, Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor reassured Lagosians that the government will always listen to the voice of the people, especially the less privileged, stressing that the programme was planned to bring hope and help to the downtrodden in view of the fact that governance is beyond the provision of basic infrastructure, but also about empowering and meeting the needs of the people.

“All our agencies of government are committed to providing succour to the citizens. For instance, in the last 600 days, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), has graduated thousands of Lagosians in all types of skills training, just as others such as Ministries of Wealth Creation and Employment, Agriculture, Youth and Social Development, Office of Civic Engagement and Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), among others, are doing”, he noted.

Earlier, the Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, commended Mr. Governor for the laudable initiative geared towards supporting vulnerable residents, as well as cushioning the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen situations on struggling individuals.

According to her, “It is a basic fact that a lot of people need financial assistance to solve diverse number of challenges ranging from chronic ailments to loss of jobs and businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the destruction that followed the #EndSARS protest. The Office has continued to screen and shortlist applications and nominations received from various platforms according to the degree and nature of their financial challenges, without bias”.

While emphasising that the process of selecting the beneficiaries were open and transparent, Adebowale averred that the first edition recipients of the initiative were effectively monitored and it was discovered that the funds received were judiciously expended, thus encouraging the Office to seek approval for the second edition which Mr. Governor granted.

“It gladdens my heart to report here that 50 indigent Lagosians, who were beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme held on Tuesday 11th August, 2020, did well with the money received. The monitoring team from the Office of Civic Engagement went round the beneficiaries to ensure that the money given to them by the Governor. Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was used for the purpose it was meant for”.

“Based on the impact assessment of the financial assistance on the socio-economic life of beneficiaries and with the testimonies that greeted the first phase of the initiative, Mr. Governor has graciously approved the extension of the gesture to another set of 50 vulnerable beneficiaries and those whose sources of livelihood had been affected by the lockdown and destructions occasioned by the #EndSARS protest as well as those with chronic health challenges but lack the financial power to take care of themselves”, she disclosed.

50 financially deprived Lagosians, comprising of persons with Disabilities, the sick, widows and parents of sick children were amongst the beneficiaries of the second edition of the initiative.

Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) on Monday began the distribution of appointment letters to People With Disabilities (PWDs) engaged in teaching jobs in the state.