By Modupe Adegboro.
Kogi state government has reaffirmed its support for the physically challenged and people living with disability in the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, gave the assurance when a group from Advocacy for Women with Disability Initiatives (AWWDI) visited him in his office in Lokoja on Tuesday.
The Commissioner urged the group to believe in themselves and in ability embedded in their disability, describing them as ”Special People”
”I will refer to you as ‘Special People’, and not people with disability. I have natural attachment to you. Let me also let you know that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello is very passionate about special people,” he said.
He reiterated that the governor remained so much passionate about women, children and special people, saying ”we don’t have a choice, I don’t have a hidden place; I must associate and identify with you”.
He assured them of the Ministry’s total support and promised that their requests would be properly looked into for considerations, adding that they would be duly informed of the Ministry’s activities and be carried along.
Jones further enjoined the group to see themselves as people who have got no deformity or disability, saying, ”you have got no issue whatsoever because it is in the mind; don’t allow yourselves to be pitied but believe in yourselves.
”Believe that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you because God has a purpose for that, so, you must continue to see yourselves as champions.”
Earlier in her speech, Miss Queen Christopher, the State Coordinator of AWWDI, appreciated the Commissioner for giving them time out of his busy schedule to honour their presence.
According to her, “we are women with disability who advocate for the total inclusion of women and girls with disability in Kogi State”.
She urged the ministry to involve the group in any of its developmental and educational activities that concern young girls.
”We want you to include us in your scholarship programmes as we have lots of girls with disability who have the dreams to be educated but were limited due to financial constraints.
”We want you to use your good office to advocate for inclusive education to help us break some barriers as it concerns the education of people with disability in Kogi State.
”We also want you to consider some of us to be employed into any viable position in your ministry any time recruitment exercise takes place”, she said.
Christopher appealed for continuous engagement with the commissioner as part of the group’s goal in promoting and advocating for total inclusion of women and girls with disability in all aspects of life development.
