South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu,
The Abia state government has restated its commitment towards assisting and empowering Persons with Disabilities .
This was made known by the Abia state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Mrs Ukachi Amala, during the International Day celebration for the persons with Disabilities, held at Umuahia Township stadium.
According to her, ” Government is interested in their disabilities, somebody with legs can be a good seamstress, government will train them and empower them.So we are ready to empower those that are interested “
She cautioned them against turning their situations into begarly situations ,promising that whatever they want to do and they pass through my office, we will make sure, we help them accomplish that.
“We have skills acquisition centers for those who want to be trained, every body will be accommodated,just say what you want to do, you can be educated and empowered “
Hon. Amala, hinted that what the government is trying to do is to reduce over dependent on government ,as well as reduce poverty.
She urged them to continue to encourage themselves and speak with one voice and be strongly united, saying that they can be employed and empowered.
In his speech, the Executive Director, Center For Citizens with Disabilities, Mr David Anyaele, represented by Miss Ulonma Uwadoka, said ” Today is International Day of persons with Disabilities, a day set aside by the United Nations to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities “
He said the theme of the 2019 IDPD is, ‘ promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership : taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’
According to him, ” The theme focuses on the empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development, which pledges to leave no one behind ‘ and recognizes disability as a cross -cutting issues, to be considered in the implementation of its 17 Sustainable development Goals “
He pointed out that, ” Our fight for the rights of persons with disabilities continues even after this event. We urge everyone in this auditorium to actively join in this fight, for posterity is depending on us to make the future accessible “
“We also call on the Executive Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and the House Speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Chinedu Orji to the concrete measures, to set in motion the process of passing the disability bill in Abia State “
Earlier on , the Abia state chairman of Joint Association of Persons of Disabilities,Mr Stanley Onyebuchi, said their association is united and made up of 7 groups and ” we are like one family”
He appealed to government to ” give us disability law, provide employment to our people, empower those who have skills, give us a vehicle for movement to local government”
We want a society that is accessible to disable persons and for the society to stop discriminating against those with disabilities.