The Ekiti State Government has intensified its commitment to disability inclusion by training 100 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in various vocational skills and empowering 130 others who had earlier completed similar programmes.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Adetoun Agboola, disclosed this during a radio programme in Ado-Ekiti, noting that the ongoing training is being conducted at the Skills Acquisition Centre in Ado-Ekiti under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

According to her, the trainees are being equipped with practical skills in fashion designing, information and communications technology (ICT), hairdressing, catering services, and shoemaking to enhance their economic independence and self-reliance.

She added that between 2023 and 2025, 130 PWDs who completed similar training programmes were empowered with start-up equipment to establish their trades.

Agboola explained that beneficiaries were provided with sewing machines, mannequins, button stapling machines and fabrics for fashion designing; laptops and printers for ICT; generators and shoemaking machines for shoemakers; dryers, wig-making tools and wash hand basins for hairdressers; and ovens, gas cookers, mixers and pastry materials for catering services. She added that the programme also includes internship placements with local artisans to provide hands-on experience.

She further revealed that the state government had embarked on community engagement visits across the local government areas to encourage parents and guardians to enrol children with special needs in the state’s three special schools and the Government Therapy Centre in Ado-Ekiti, where free education and therapy services are provided.

Agboola noted that the outreach programmes also featured voter education, sensitisation on free healthcare services for PWDs at primary healthcare centres, and the distribution of food items to vulnerable persons across communities.

The Special Adviser said the Oyebanji administration had invested significantly in rehabilitating and equipping the School for the Deaf in Ikoro-Ekiti, the School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti, and the School for Children with Special Needs in Ido-Ekiti, alongside the upgrade of the Government Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities in Ado-Ekiti.

She disclosed that 103 children are currently receiving care at the therapy centre, many of whom have shown remarkable improvement, adding that the initiatives have helped to uncover exceptional talents among students. She cited the example of Master Awelewa Eniola, a student of the Special School in Ido-Ekiti, who emerged fourth at a national arts competition in Abuja and received a cash prize of ₦1 million and a motorised wheelchair.

Agboola also said her office recently organised a mental health programme for 300 women with disabilities, providing free counselling and financial support to promote emotional wellbeing.

She further announced the introduction of a free healthcare programme for PWDs at primary healthcare centres across the state, the establishment of an inclusive public school in Ikole-Ekiti donated by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, and the provision of prosthetic limbs to 138 amputees through the intervention of a federal lawmaker, Mr. Akintunde Rotimi.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to inclusion, Agboola said recent distributions of food items and cash assistance to PWDs were aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship and improving their quality of life, urging beneficiaries to maximise future empowerment opportunities for sustainable development.

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The Senator representing Nasarawa State, Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, has pledged to establish a Ministry for Persons with Disabilities if elected, as part of efforts to strengthen inclusion and support for vulnerable groups in the state.

The lawmaker made the commitment during an interactive session with members of the disability community drawn from across Nasarawa State.

At the meeting, Senator Wadada donated N10 million and 140 bags of rice to persons with disabilities (PWDs), describing the gesture as part of his ongoing commitment to social welfare and community development.

He noted that creating a dedicated ministry for persons with special needs would ensure proper representation, policy implementation, and improved access to government support.

The engagement followed a request facilitated by Aliyu Dangote, a former member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Keffi West. Dangote, who has long supported persons with disabilities through his foundation, played a key role in bringing the association together for dialogue with the senator.

During the deliberations, the Sarkin Makafin Lafia appealed for mobility support to ease transportation challenges faced by visually impaired members across the state.

In response, Senator Wadada approved the donation of a vehicle to the association, alongside the N10 million contribution, reiterating his promise to create a Ministry for Persons with Special Needs if given the mandate.

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Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nasarawa State have called for the strengthening of policy frameworks to ensure improved access to inclusive, community-based healthcare services for vulnerable groups across the state.

The call was made during an advocacy visit by a delegation of disability rights organisations to the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA), Dr. Sale Iskilu, in Lafia. The delegation, led by Mallam Haladu Usman, highlighted the persistent challenges faced by PWDs in accessing healthcare due to structural barriers, discrimination, and social stigma.

Usman stressed the need for the strict enforcement of policies aimed at eliminating obstacles to healthcare access, noting that such measures would significantly enhance the delivery of quality care to persons with disabilities at the community level. He also commended the agency for introducing community-driven primary healthcare initiatives and urged traditional institutions and key stakeholders to support ongoing vaccination and immunisation programmes targeted at eradicating preventable diseases.

“We are here to seek assistance for our people. Many of our members still experience discrimination and stigmatization when they visit health facilities. We support your efforts to improve healthcare at the grassroots, and we believe that persons with disabilities should be fully included in all healthcare policies and programmes,” Usman said.

In his response, Dr. Iskilu described the visit as timely and impactful, reaffirming that access to healthcare is the fundamental right of every citizen, regardless of status. He assured the delegation of the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with disability groups to promote inclusive healthcare delivery and deepen community engagement.

Dr. Iskilu added that discussions during the visit also explored ways to expand partnerships with disability organisations to support their integration into community development initiatives, emphasizing that sustained collaboration and inclusive policies remain essential to ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing essential healthcare services.

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