Twenty persons with physical disabilities benefitted from the magnanimity of Rotary International, District 9110 at the Wheel Chairs Presentation Event 2022 that took place at the Rotary Centre, GRA, Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Wheel Chair Committee, Past Assistant Governor, Tunde Ezichi, premised the giving out of the wheel chairs on the fact that it would facilitate the movement of the beneficiaries, remove some challenges that would have remained permanent with them, as well as getting them engaged in their own little way.
He added that provision was made for thirty beneficiaries, but only twenty showed up.
“We insisted that they must be physically present to collect the wheel chairs because we have heard that in the past, some came to collect the wheel chairs and sold them, thereby defeating the motive behind the project.
“We notified various clubs of the programme and asked them for names of potential beneficiaries and their photographs, ensuring that those who really need the wheel chairs are the beneficiaries.
“We also got in touch with some homes such as Spinal Bifida Home, knowing that disability is not limited to polio victims.
“We also contacted Coordinator, Polio Rescue, Mr. Gbenga Kuye, who also gave us some names,” he said.
Ezichi, who gave kudos to sponsors, including several individuals, put the cost of the twenty wheel chairs at over N2million, attributing the reduced cost to buying them in bulk, at N1,400,000.
The District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello, said it was stringent that the wheel chairs were actually given to those that need them, hence the reason for having the number of the beneficiaries with a view to keep monitoring them to ensure they are not sold or transferred to the third party.
He told the beneficiaries that strict compliance with this condition would open doors for other things to benefit from Rotary International.
Kuye appreciated the gesture of Rotary International with the promise to ensure that no one transfers his or her chair to another person.
“Majority of us are polio survivors left with disability. About 40 people applied from our non-governmental organisation, but only eight were given,” he said.
Past District Governor, Dr. Oladeinde Shoga gave the keynote address at the event.
