By Adewale Adeyanju (INN), Lagos
The Potters Gallery Initiatives (PGI), an NGO whose focus is building up, supporting and sustaining artistes and creatives with disabilities has called for improvement in marketing access for Persons with Disabilities in creative industry.
The group made the call in a one day focus group interactive session targeted at Persons with Disabilities in the industry. The event held on Thursday November 17 at the International Press centre, Ogba, Lagos.
Creative Director, Potters Gallery Initiatives (PGI) – Mr. Donald Unanka while reviewing projects and operations of PGI stated that the goals and objectives of the NGO is to help artistes and creatives who are persons with disabilities discover and maximize their talents while helping them identify and overcome their challenges.
He said the NGO has executed a lot of projects in Abuja and parts of the North. Unanka says he is delighted to bring it to Lagos State to assist persons with disabilities facing similar challenges. According to him, the NGO offers various skills training, counseling and referrals. It also motivates and support artistes and creative persons with disabilities who are involved in handiwork to access marketing opportunities for their products and services and by extension, make profits and get out of poverty cycles”
PWDs at the event disclosed that most policies adopted by Government still look on them as objects of charity instead of human rights.
The PWD group also harped on lack of initiatives and support from the Government at local, states and national level – decrying that persons with disabilities are being left behind in the industry.
The Creative Director assured persons with disabilities of the initiative’s support. According to him, the organisation has partnered with United Nations agency like UNESCO and other NGOs to assist in alleviating the challenges of persons with disabilities in their bid to survive on the job and contribute to economic growth for their families and society.
Among the participants were printers, painters, fashion designers, dancers, musicians, Disc Jockeys (DJs), music composers, choreographers, Sound Engineers, graphic artists, Web designers, publishers and bead makers.
INN reports that over 50 artistes and creatives with Disabilities received grants and support with assurance of more supports in the future.