The year 2020 estimates put the number of Nigerians living with Disabilities at some 27 millions. It is good to know that availability of such statistics has led to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) becoming more involved in mainstream social life and economic activities. These people have thus been encouraged to take roles up in select business endeavours.
It is against the foregoing that MD/CEO, Kogi State Enterprise Development Agency, KEDA, Hajia Rekiya Onaivo Sanni has taken the PWDs inclusion agenda a step further in a bid to ensure that no one is left out in the various intervention programs lined up by the agency.
Hajia Rekiya, in her address to the community of Persons With Disabilities (PWD), says the aim of the familiarization visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs Rehabilitation Center, is to establish a lasting relationship with the center while intimating them of the overarching goals of KEDA with possibility of support.
Rekiya lauded the Executive Governor of Kogi State for establishing KEDA as well as the privilege of being the pioneer Manager/CEO. She believes her leadership can take the State’s SME sector to the top.
While educating the rehab center on how to access the NG-CARES grant as well as 10% slot allocated to the PWDs, she advised them to form business clusters of members across the 21 LGAs of the State.
She further noted that, KEDA prioritizes engagement of women for any project, hence women are highly encouraged to apply.
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Chairman, of the PWD community, Honorable Arome, lauded the MD for amicable interactions with the PWD community and for taking the pains to spare them the stress of coming all the way to KEDA office.
In separate remarks, the various PWD clusters engaged in various vocations expressed confidence in the KEDA boss while lauding her untiring support in such short period of appointment.
Hajia Rekiya, while fielding questions from the community, announced that PWDs will be fully represented at the KEDA office throughout the program of implementation so as to ensure that the 10% beneficiary slot is fully utilised.
She advised the group to direct all enquiries to KEDA while disregarding any information asking them to pay money to be enrolled. She added that KEDA will continue to give up-to-date information as the only approved agency for SMEs in Kogi State.
Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by Director of the Rehabilitation Center, Mrs. Mercy Okpe pledged the Ministry’s full support and partnership with KEDA.