A Nigerian Health and Safety Envoy, Ms. Ibironke Adeagbo, has called on the Federal Government to show determination in implementing the policy on discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Adeagbo made the call in a message of solidarity to the government and people of Nigeria, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated around the world every December 3.
He said that Nigeria had not made significant progress in making its citizens with disabilities have a sense of belonging to society.
Records show that up to 27 million Nigerians are living with one form of disability or another with visual impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, and general communication problems.
Speaking to journalists after donating learning materials to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) School for Blind Children, Adeagbo argued that Nigeria needed to do more to help people with disabilities.
He advised the government to make extrabudgetary allocations to meet the needs of students in schools serving people with special needs.
“There is an absolute need for the government to invest heavily in e-learning devices for schools with disabled students, to make teaching and learning enjoyable for students and teachers.”
The envoy, who is also CEO of the UK charity IA-Foundation, expressed her unwavering determination to join the Nigerian government in promoting access to education for people with disabilities.
Earlier, while receiving the educational materials donated by IA-Foundation, the director of the FCT school for blind children, Ms Rose Ngu, thanked the foundation for “visiting the school from London, England.
“Thank you so much for remembering disabled students on this special day and for donating learning materials to us. God will reward you, ” Ngu said.
NAN