PWDs Visit Gombe Polytechnic, Seek 5% Employment, Accessibility Of Buildings

By Yusuf Mohammed, INN Reporter,

As part of JONAPWD’s resolve to improve relationships with the various higher institutions in the State, along with a burning desire to ensure equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), it had drawn up series of advocacy visits to select places to push for the attainment of the above objectives.

The visits are currently being carried out by the Gombe State Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) under the able leadership of Alh Umaru Ali Goro Mona.

One such visits, targeted at strengthening and enhancing relationships between PWDs and different higher institutions in Gombe State was taken to Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga, on Tuesday 9th November,2021.

The demands of the body were made known to the Rector, Gombe State Polytechnic, Engr. Aminu Muhammad Ciroma by the Chairman Alhaji Mona when he led PWDs on an advocacy visit to the Rector in his office.

Mona, who expressed immense gratitude to the Rector for the timely and prompt response to the request sent to the institution drew attention to the important issue of 5℅ employment slot for PWDs in the institution. He also harped on the urgent need of the institution, as engineering hub of the State, to enforce the implementation of accessible building structures to make mobility easy for PWDs students – not only in the Gombe State Polytechnic, but in other institutions and public buildings within the State.

Mona, obviously worried by the ever-increasing numbers of unemployed and unskilled young PWDs used the opportunity to remind the Rector of the essential mandate of the Polytechnic, which, according to him, is related to equipping Youths with manipulative technical skills for achieving self-reliance.

His words, “Let me appeal to you that we have scores of unskilled, unemployed youth. This institution has a mandate to train and equip them with relevant educational and technical skills so they can become able actors who are both responsible for their own lives and are economically self reliant”.

Read Also: Federal Teaching Hospital Assures Of Better Services For Gombe PWDs

In his response, Engr Aminu Muhammad Ciroma, who brimmed with appreciation to JONAPWD leaders for deeming the Polytechnic worthy of their visit commended them for fighting for the full integration of PWDs in all sectors of public life including the education sector, which according to the seasoned Engineer, remained an indispensable sector for the overall progress of PWDs anywhere.

“Let me assure you that the doors of Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga, is open and will remain open for any student with disabilities to pursue his education. We will do our utmost best to ensure zero discrimination against any student with disabilities in this citadel of learning”, Ciroma said.

He further explained that, for the Polytechnic to effectively integrate PWDs in the institution, the need for a special education department in the institution is sacrosanct.

” We will try to establish Special Education here even if it’s part time” he said.

Andirya Ali, Director of Works at the Polytechnic pointed out that as a former student of University of Jos class of 82, he knew about special education and will work together with the Rector to ensure the establishment of a special education department in the Polytechnic, Bajoga.

He lamented that existing building structures in the polytechnic are not PWDs friendly. He however promised to make the buildings more accessible to PWDs in the nearest future.

Mal. Abdullahi Mohammed Umar, Director Academic Planning unit of the Polytechnic admitted that although the institution had previously admitted students with disabilities who are not Deaf and Blind, the issue of handling challenges of Blind and Deaf students might be too difficult for the staff of the Polytechnic. He however remained optimistic that the proposed establishment of special education as suggested by the Rector will address any unforeseen challenges associated with training Blind and Deaf students.

He assured PWDs of the Polytechnic’s support for students with disabilities as long as they have indicated such in the registration forms.