The Deputy National Chairman, South, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Segun Oni, has underscored the need to work for the passage of the current bill seeking to protect the persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Engr. Oni spoke on Thursday in Abuja at an occasion to mark the International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) packaged by Kpakpando Foundation for the Physically Persons (KFPCP), a organization founded by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso.
He urged the KFPCP to sustain its advocacy of the PWD bill and worked to solve the issues disturbing the passage of the law which would not only protect the rights of the physically challenged persons but also guarantee access to education and employment.
He lauded Sen. Izunaso for lifting up the physically challenged persons, saying “any society that does not think about people with disabilities is not ready for progress”.
The chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the KFPCP, Sen. Izunaso, in his remarks, said the foundation had been at the forefront of the campaign to ensure that PWD bill was passed.
He urged the Senate to send the bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent, saying any bill advocating that public buildings should have mobility access to PWDs could not be said to be harmful.
“The bill is not harmful. The bill says there should be provision for PWDs. Every employer of labour should dedicate certain percentage of labour to PWDs because most of them are well read with doctoral degrees (Ph.Ds).
Highlights of the occasion included the announcement of the awards given to Sen. Izunaso and the foundation by the American President, Donald Trump, the unveiling of the Face of Kpakpando Foundation and its Ambassadors as well as the scholarship awards given to 20 students of Kuje Secondary School.
Senator Dino Melaye unveiled Miss Helen Halima Makama, a physically challenged person, from Plateau State, who secured automatic employment from Governor Simon Lalong, as the Face of Kpakpando Foundation.
The APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Sen. Lawan Shuaibu, decorated Kpakpando Foundation Ambassadors, including Comrade Sani Ibrahim, who received a specialized tricycle at the occasion.
