BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
Professor Maryam Koko of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has said over one billion people are living with disabilities globally, out of which, twenty seven (27) million of them are in Nigeria.
Prof Maryam, spoke as a resource person at a one day sensitization held at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Quaranic and General Studies in Sokoto to commemorate the International Day For Persons With Disability.
The event was organized by Give Care To Young Lives (GYL) in collaboration with Joint National Association of Persons with Disability and sponsored by the Leprosy Mission Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme, “Discrimination /Isolation of Persons with Disabilities and the Role of Government”, Prof Maryam urged participants to see themselves as people with special needs and not disabled as wrongly perceived by the society.
She urged participants to take off their minds from whatever physical challenge they have and see themselves as champions in their respective ways.
According to her, those with special needs should therefore eschew the mentality of feeling inferior, as doing so leads to self discrimination and isolation.
Prof Maryam also appealed to government at all levels to further initiate programmes and policies that will make people with special needs become self reliant.
While addressing those living with disability after their road walk to the Sokoto Central Motorpark, Alhaji Modi Modi Bodinga, the state Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) represented by the branch secretary of the union, Alhaji Labaran Abubakar said they are against any form of discrimination against people with special needs.
Speaking earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Ameh Jerry, the State Coordinator of Give Care to Young Lives (GYL) said those living with disabilities are uniquely gifted and most be appreciated by all and sundry.
Mr Ameh, who noted that majority of them are in that condition not because of their choice, however, appealed to them not to use their conditions as licences for seeking alms rather they should strive to have something doing that can generate incomes for them.
“The subject of people with special needs is not only worrisome but calls for concerted attention.
“No human race, either in the developed, developing and under developed world that is immune to this challenges.
“Though, diverse factors are largely responsible for certain disabilities in human beings.
“For some, the cause might be parental neglect and carelessness on the part of caregivers. For others, it might be because of accidents and unforeseen catastrophes. Yet others are better described as God’s making to enable us honour the creator.
“Not minding the cause, however these people with special needs are undoubtedly very unique. Their strength is unimaginable. They are enviable human beings that needs our collective support at all times.
“As the world mark yet another day in celebration of these special need people, I am therefore, calling on all and sundry to henceforth eschew all forms of discrimination and isolation of persons with disabilities.
“I am also calling on governments at all levels to initiate programmes and policies that will allow for self sufficiency and full realization of their potentials.
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“As the world celebrates International Day For Persons Living With Disabilities, let’s make them happy, feel loved, and important to their immediate family, communities and the society at large”. Mr Ameh Jerry added.
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