BY NONYELUM JULIET
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board has empowered 41 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who graduated from its rehabilitation centre in Kaduna with starter packs for self-reliance.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Malam Aliyu Yakasai, said that the ceremony was part of activities to commemorate the 2022 International Day of People with Disabilities.
Yakassai said that the beneficiaries were trained for at least three years and equipped with self-reliant skills that would enable them to live quality lives and contribute to societal development.
“This is part of the state government’s youth development and empowerment effort to ensure inclusion of PWDs in economic, social, and political space”.
The Commissioner, Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Hafsat Baba said that, two additional rehabilitation centres, one each in Soba and Jaba LGAs would soon be inaugurated.
The Commissioner who was represented by Hajia Maryam Mu’azu, said that the goal was to increase access skills acquisition opportunities by the disability community based on their skill interest and form of the disability, she said.
She reiterated that the State government is committed to improve the quality of life of the disability by ensuring their inclusion in governance and decision-making processes.
The Centre Manager, Mr Auwal Shuaibu, thanked parents for the show of love and support to the PWDs to complete their training.
The Chairman, Joint National Association of People with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Kaduna State Chapter, Mr. Suleiman Abdulazeez commended the state government for the efforts.
One of the beneficiaries, a 70-year-old Ibrahim Muhammad, who learned welding, thanked the government for the gesture, saying the skills and the support has given him a fresh start in life.
The starter packs include grinding machines, sewing machines, welding tools, carpentry packs, weaving machines, knitting tools, and shoe making tool kits among others.
