GOVERNOR Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has distributed wheelchairs and other assistive devices to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state as part of the celebration of his one year in office.
The distribution of the devices was capped with the presentation of awards to three distinguished individuals, including the governor, by the PWDs.
The assistive devices distributed included 50 wheelchairs, 50 elbow crutches, 40 arm crutches, and 35 cane guides.
Others were 20 hearing aids, 25 walking sticks, and 15 umbrellas.
Mr Yakubu Abdulkareem, Executive Secretary, Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs (KOSODA), supervised the distribution of the devices on the occasion of PWDs’ celebration of Ododo’s one year of inclusivity.
Abdulareem, who thanked the governor for the gesture, said that the devices would “greatly enhance the mobility, communication, and livelihood of our beneficiaries.
The executive secretary said the devices would enable the beneficiaries to participate fully in their daily activities and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“In addition, this government has also kickstarted the Ododo/Habibat Disability Education Project, which aims to provide educational support to children with disabilities in Kogi Central.
“This is why this event is not just a celebration; it is an attestation to the progressive strides our beloved state is making in ensuring that inclusivity becomes the hallmark of governance,” he said.
He lauded the immediate past governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who, through his inclusive and visionary leadership, redesigned and elevated the disability landscape in Kogi.
Abdulareem stated that under Bello’s administration, the Disability Rights Bill was signed into law, a monumental step that provided legal backing to the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.
According to him, establishing KOSODA, an institution charged with implementing the provisions of the disability rights law and ensuring that persons with disabilities were actively included in governance and development.
“This singular act of appointing a person with a disability to head an agency designed for persons with disabilities is a bold and transformative step.
“It gives us a seat at the table, ensuring that we are not just subjects of policy but active contributors to the development of policies and programs that affect us,” he said.
Earlier speaking, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Poverty Alleviation, Hajiya Rabif Arute, described Ododo’s inclusivity as a journey, not just a destination.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Aminu Salami, Arute said there was a need for a continued push for policies that promote accessibility, provide better healthcare, create employment opportunities, and eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Also speaking, Chairman of Kogi Nongovernmental Organisations Network, Mr Idris Muraina, appealed to the government to create room for bringing PWDs on board for leadership to tap their wealth of talents and knowledge.
Muriana argued, “When we amplify the need for PWDs to take up leadership roles, we create role models for younger generations, demonstrating that disability doesn’t equate to inability.”
NAN reports that the event climaxed with the presentation of awards to the Governor, Ahmed Ododo; State Accountant General, Habibat Tijjani; and Mr Reuben Isaiah of The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) (NAN)
