Discrimination of people with disability: Envoy calls for policy review

 

Principal of FCT School for the Blind, Mrs Rose Ngunan, receives education materials from the Founder of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, in Abuja on 3/12/2021

A Nigerian Health and Safety Envoy, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, has called on the Federal Government to show resolve in implementing the policy on discrimination of persons with disabilities.

Adeagbo made the call in a solidarity message to the government and people of Nigeria, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated worldwide every Dec. 3.

She said that Nigeria had not recorded significant progress in making its citizens with disabilities to have a sense of belonging to society.

Records show that up to 27 million Nigerians are living with one form of disability or the other with visual impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual impairment and communication impairment being dominant.

Speaking with reporters after donating learning materials to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) School for Blind Children, Adeagbo argued that Nigeria needed to do more to assist persons with disabilities.

She advised government to make extra-budgetary allocations to provide the needs of students in schools catering for people with special needs.

“There’s absolute need for government to make huge investments in e-learning devices for schools with disabled students, to make teaching and learning enjoyable for students and teachers.’’

The envoy, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of UK charity, IA-Foundation, expressed her unwavering determination to join hands with the Nigerian Government to promote education access for people with disabilities.

Earlier, while receiving the education materials donated by IA-Foundation, the Principal of the FCT School for the Blind Children, Mrs Rose Ngunan, thanked the foundation for “visiting the school all the way from London, England.

“Thank you so much for remembering disabled students on this special day and donating learning materials to us. God will reward you,’’ Ngunan said. (NAN)