Kano State Government has unfolded its plans to establish an agency dedicated to the welfare of People With Disabilities PWDs in the state.
Grassroots Parrot leant that Kano and Lagos top records of the 35.5 million people with disabilities in Nigeria, according to James David Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for PWDs.
Beyond the establishment of the agency, the state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, also promised to ensure that prospective leaders to piloting the affairs of the proposed agency are within the PWDs community.
Yusuf – the only New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governor in the country – gave the assurance on Tuesday night when he hosted residents of the children’s home and PWDs during an Iftar gathering in Kano.
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The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitments to supporting the residents of the Kano children’s home in achieving a higher quality of life even as they transition into adulthood.
This commitment, according to him, reflects the administration’s ongoing endeavor to provide social security and a prosperous existence for the children’s home residents.
A statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, quoted the governor as saying his government has expanded the mandate of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to encompass children and individuals with disabilities.
According to him, the move – in light of his administration’s concern for addressing the needs of vulnerable members of society – was to enhancing their quality of life through tailored policies.
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He also expressed his commitment to addressing other issues such as job creation, access to tertiary education, provision of scholarships, and support for the marriage of female residents of the children’s home, in accordance with the government’s principle of inclusivity in providing the benefits of democracy to all segments of society.
In her remarks, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Children, and Persons with Disabilities, Hajiya Aisha Lawan Saji, expressed gratitude to Governor Yusuf for prioritizing women’s development and enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Engineer Musa Shaba, the State Chairman of the Joint Associations of People Living with Disabilities (JONAPLWD), expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for the renovation of Yadakunya General Hospital and the medical interventions provided to spinal cord patients, among other initiatives.