The National stakeholders forum of persons with disabilities implored President Bola Tinubu to consider appointment of Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as Humanitarian affairs minister to replace the suspended Minister, Dr Better Edu.
The call was made at a press conference held in Abuja on Monday 12 February, 2024.
The stakeholders press conference which had the Deaf, Blinds, Physically Challenged, persons with Spinal Cord injuries among other leaders.
Speaking at the event, SSA to Kano state Governor on Disabilities and the National Coordinator for Persons with disabilities, Hon Adnan Aliyu Daneji argued that its difficult to find a kind hearted, humanitarian, inclusive and PWD friendly person like Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho.
“This is one of the reasons we came together as stakeholders at this press conference to implore our Dear President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to consider our mother Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation minister to help us alleviate the level of poverty we disabled and less privileged people are facing”
The Secretary of the group Hon Dr Samuelson Emehibe who is an aide to Imo state Government on Disability affairs laments that PWDs have suffered a lot in the past decades and the Humanitarian affairs minister under which PWDs are supported need a credible, character and reliable person who will champion the cause of PWDs, widows, orphans etc and help revive the National Commission for PWDs and the person whose the cap fit is Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho due to her long Humanitarian gestures not only toward PWDs, widows, orphans etc but also persons without Disabilities through her Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation.
“We sincerely appeal and humbly recommend Mr President to kindly appoint Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho to work with him as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. She’s the most competent for the position and her result oriented nature, positive mindset as well as her love for humanity, Nigeria will never regret having her as Humanitarian Affairs Minister”
A representative of Deaf cluster, Mr Ismail Abdullahi who is the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, (NNAD), commends President Tinubu for signing African Union Charter on Disability. He said that this indicates President Tinubu is not only promoting Disabilities rights in Nigeria but also Africa at large. Mr Ismail appealed Mr President to consider the appointment of Dr Halimat to help in championing the rights and welfare of PWDs and less privileged because she’s not only Humanitarian but also have PWDs and less privileged at heart.
Abubakar Ibrahim Gombe who spoke on behalf of persons with physical disabilities said that considering her Humanitarian gestures toward PWDs and less privileged Dr Halimat is the right person to head the ministry.
On his part, Mohammed Aliyu who represents blind stakeholders appealed Mr president to consider their demands.
The group also presented their demands to APC National Chairman at the APC National Secretariat where the National Secretary of the party, Sarajudeen Ajibola Basiru representing the Chairman assured to look into their demands and submit to Mr President for consideration.