Founder of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, Prof. Sabit Olagoke, has called on Nigerians to support people with disabilities (PWDs) and stop stigmatizing them.
Olagoke, a former Dean of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, gave the advice at a ‘Celebrities Plus Conference’, organized by Yutex Entertainment for people with disabilities, on Thursday in Ibadan.
Newsmen report that the theme of the conference is: “Talent, Creativity and Disability-Realities and Solutions in Nigerian Entertainment Industry.”
Olagoke identified inclusiveness as one of the problems facing the country which, he said, needed to be addressed by all and sundry.
He said that most of the people with disabilities were highly talented, with some of them performing wonderfully well in their respective areas of endeavor even more than those without disabilities.
The Islamic cleric called on governments at all levels, corporate organizations, and well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of people with disabilities through empowerment and other forms of assistance that would enhance their wellbeing.
“Most of them are creative, talented, and are mobilizers. All these values must not be allowed to waste through stigmatization.
“People should see them as part of the society, while enough sensitization on the need to integrate them into the society should be emphasized,” he said.
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The don called on the government to conduct a census on the number of people with disabilities in Nigeria in order to adequately plan for their needs.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer, Star Children Development Initiative, Mrs. Grace Alexander, called on Nigerians to have a change of mindset on the belief about inability on the part of people with disabilities.
According to Alexander, people with disabilities are unique and creative, stressing that they must be celebrated rather than stigmatized.
“Don’t see them as people who cannot contribute their own quota to the development of the society,” she said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Yutex Entertainment, Mr. Raheem Olatunji, said that the conference was aimed at encouraging people with disabilities to pursue their talents in the entertainment industry.
He said that the conference would also stop people with disabilities from engaging in street begging.
Olatunji urged them to focus on their potentials and not be discouraged by their physical disabilities.