By JACOB ONJEWU DOCKSON
The Zamfara office of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has said that it will renovate School for Special Education across the state and assured inclusion of persons with special needs.
This was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Wednesday by the Project’s Communications Officer, Bashiru Kabiru Ahmad.
The state Coordinator of the project, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu-Gusau said this at a meeting with the state leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).
AGILE, a World Bank Intervention project targeting enrollment of thousands of out-of-school adolescent girls in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Dalhatu, he assured of more inclusion of persons with special needs.
Abdu-Gusau added that the project is committed to identifying barriers to access for persons with special needs with a view to fostering collaboration with organisations that can support the project in bridging the identified gaps.
“The plans is ongoing to embark on rehabilitation of schools for special education in the state as part of the project’s inclusive efforts towards ensuring better future for the girl child regardless of the disability status.
“We are committed to ensure effective implementation of the project in the state.
“The project is highly committed towards improving the inclusivity in the implementation of the project in the state,” She said.
The Coordinator commended Gov Dauda Lawal for his kind support towards success of the project inline with his declaration of emergency on education sector of the state.
Abdu-Gusau assured inclusion of all stakeholders from NGOs, CSOs, development partners and government organizations to ensure workable strategies for impressive project’s outcomes in the state.
“The AGILE project in Zamfara is committed to identifying barriers to access for persons with special needs with a view to fostering collaboration with organisations that can support the project in bridging the identified gaps.
“The project plans to rehabilitate schools for Special Education in the state as part of inclusive efforts towards ensuring better future for the girl child regardless of the disability status,” she explained.
The Coordinator who appreciates the the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) urges for more support towards success of the project in the state.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Dr. Bilyaminu Umar commended state AGILE Team for ensuring more inclusion of people with special needs.
Umar noted that the unfortunate neglecting of people with special needs in the society makes their lives of more unpleasant.
“We appreciate the AGILE Team in the state for inclusive and equitable implementation of the project promises support for effective implementation by engaging and enlightening members of the JONAPWD in the state.
“Now our members are more aware on the enrollment, re-enrollment, retention and completion of secondary school education,” Umar explained.
