Bauchi State Agency for Persons with Disabilities has set a 2-point agenda it hopes to achieve within the first quarter of 2021.
The Chairman of the agency, Hamza Waziri disclosed this in a statement made to wish his family and friends – especially Persons with Disabilities around the world a happy new year.
Delineating the Educational Reform in line with SDGs goal 4 (Free education and scholarships to PWDs in Bauchi State), Waziri noted that two State tertiary institutions are already offering free and accessible education to Nigerians with Disabilities.
He promised to transform the Bauchi State educational environment into a disability-friendly setting, meanwhile, increasing the number of institutions with appropriate facilities in the State. He also hinted at philanthropic gestures which might birth four additional institutions.
“I intend, with very strong commitment, to transform the Bauchi State educational environment into a disability-friendly setting. It is a target already begun at the tertiary institution where l served as a lecturer, (Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi) with the construction of ramps in all the faculties. Thus, these facilities became more accessible to physically challenged students in the institution. A physically-challenged-friendly toilet was also constructed (the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria).”
“Two tertiary institutions, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic and College of Education (COE) Azare have graciously offered free education to PWDs. It is my personal aim as well as an official objective of the Agency for PWDs to see that in the first quarter of 2021, additional four of such educational facilities provide the same philanthropic gestures as the afore-mentioned two.
“The Agency for People with Disabilities is mandated by laws governing its establishment to seek for such corporate social responsibility.”
As a strategy to reduce poverty among PWDs, Waziri promised to empower 500 Persons with Disabilities across the State. He said plans are underway to launch a commercial plan where tricycle ice-cream carts designed for carrying assorted refreshments specifically engineered for PWDs shall be distributed to sell refreshments at strategic locations.
The Agency also targets 500 PWDs for additional self-help development programs via the supply and distribution of shoe-cobbling kits. This, Waziri noted will serve to elevate PWDs out of poverty in the 1st quarter of 2021.
The chairman promised to personally spear-head the project, affirming that it will motivate jobless PWDs into believing that there is more to life than begging or being taken care of by others.