The Nigeria National Persons with Disabilities Multipurpose Coorperative Society (NNPWDMCS), has called on Nigerians to stop discrimination against people living with disability (PLWD), in the society, reports ITREALMS.
The group President, Taiye Titus Oloye, said disability should not equate with inability because there is ability in every disability therefore Nigerians should not discriminate against them rather to support this group of people, which include people with vision and hearing impediments among others to make their lives positive.
He made this call yesterday at seminar/workshop organized by the association, titled economic empowerment of the people living with disability through coorperatives and other community based rehabilitation or poverty alleviation programme, held at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Oloye, stated that the event was part of little effort to empower their members economically and otherwise to face the challenges in doing this the association has taken into consideration to the fact that every individual has his/her own unique way.
He explained that for persons with disability to be economically empowered they should be encouraged to come together and formed coorperative foster economics of scope and scale, increase the bargaining power of their members providing them among other benefits, higher income and protection.
Oloye stressed that coming together would give disability opportunity, protection and empowerment essential elements in uplifting them from degradations and poverty.
He noted that as governments around the world cut services and withdrew from regulating markets, coorperatives are being considered useful mechanisms to manage risk for people with disabilities and keep markets efficient.
He said the task of carrying disability along in the society is the collective responsibility for both government, individuals and cooperate organisations as well.
"We appeal to the government not to relent in the efforts to better the life of the disability because there is a saying that a tree cannot make a forest”.
Director, Lagos State, Ministry of Agriculture, Emmanuel Audu, said Lagos State government through ministry of agriculture is determined to train people living with disability in cultivation of crops including catfish farming, soap making among others in order to change their lives positively.
The director, who represented Commissioner for Agriculture Lagos State Ms. Abisola Olusanya, added that people living with disability are integral members of the society in Lagos State and reside across the communities and local government areas and government view them as important people despites their disability.
He said as a ministry they operate in such a way that no one is left behind both ability and disability as every one can contribute meaningfully to the development of Lagos State within the agricultural space, where the ministry covers.
“We have it in back of our mind the ministry provides programme to empowered people with interest and passion for agriculture and over the years our beneficiaries are people with disability” he said.
Paul Adunwoke/Editor
Paul Adunwoke/Editor
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