Nigeria losing more for neglecting persons with disabilities -Osunde

Educationist and Christian cleric, Sir David Osunde has called for more inclusion of person with disabilities (PWDs), saying that Nigeria is losing more by not harnessing their potentials.

He made the call on Friday in Abuja at the media briefing of the 30th anniversary of the Sir David Osunde Foundation’s (SDOF) themed, ‘Projects: 30 years of service to persons with disabilities.’

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Represented by the Operations Manager of the foundation, Mr. Martin Umeatuegbu, Sir David Osunde, said that after 30 years of God using the foundation to attend to the needs of PWDs, it is appropriate to take a deep breath and look at the projects and programs which the foundation has executed for the benefits of PWDs in the country.

“As we begin this exercise, one can immediately visualize millions of reasons why we must continue to thank God for His mercies and generous Heart. Without Him, I could not have had the courage, the inspiration, the talent and the wherewithal to execute the various programs of Sir David Osunde Foundation in the last 30 years.

“It is undoubtedly with His blessings and great support as our Great Provider that our Foundation has been able to care for a good number of those in greatest need, especially those with disabilities in our community all this while,” Umeatuegbu said.

He also said that a national celebration of PWDs would hold on Monday in Abuja as part of activities marking this year’s easter and 30th anniversary of the foundation.

He also said that the main reasons for establishing the foundation include but not limited to creating national awareness for our individual and collective responsibilities in taking special care of PWDs.

He said that the foundation has been working to ensure that PWDs encourage themselves to go to school because it is through education that they will be able to know and defend their rights, privileges and prerogatives.

“We have to ensure also that persons with disabilities are specially celebrated and integrated as members of the society.

“The double celebration and empowerment take activities such as scholarships, educational grants, assistive devices, mobility aids, entrepreneurship, medical outreach and support, skill development among others.

“For the past 29 years of our existence, over 20,000 persons with disabilities have benefited from the above schemes, and majority of whom now live independently, and contributing their quota to national development.

“The above would not have been possible to be achieved without the collaborative partnership and efforts of the Church, certain individuals of goodwill,” he said.