The Kogi State Government has launched the first phase of an empowerment programme targeting persons with disabilities (PWDs), with interventions including skills acquisition centres, Point of Sale (POS) businesses and financial assistance to promote economic independence and improve household livelihoods.
The initiative, known as the Ododo Continuity PWD Empowerment Project, is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical skills, support business establishment and enable them to generate sustainable income while contributing to the economic development of the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs (KOSODA), Hon. Yakubu Nazir Abdulhakeem, unveiled the programme on Friday in Lokoja, describing it as a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to disability inclusion, equal opportunities and the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Abdulhakeem said the initiative was designed to move beyond immediate financial assistance by creating sustainable economic opportunities that would enable beneficiaries to become self-reliant, support their families and potentially create employment for others.
He explained that the programme recognised the wider economic challenges associated with disability, noting that its impact often extends beyond individuals to affect family relationships, marriages and household income. He said the intervention was therefore structured to address not only the needs of individual beneficiaries but also the economic circumstances of their families.
According to him, the programme also provides financial assistance for couples with disabilities and the Association of Wives of Persons with Disabilities, in recognition of the financial difficulties confronting households affected by disability.
“When we empower a person with a disability, we empower a family; when we empower a family, we strengthen a community; and when we strengthen our communities, we strengthen Kogi State,” he said.
The KOSODA executive secretary commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his support for disability inclusion, economic empowerment and human development, saying the administration’s interventions had renewed hope and confidence among members of the disability community.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the economic participation of persons with disabilities by expanding access to vocational training, business opportunities and financial support, enabling beneficiaries to contribute more actively to their households and communities.
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