Sola POPOOLA
The 2022 edition of the International Day For Persons With Disabilities(IDPD) was commemorated with pomp, as governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State donated a Multimillionaire Mobility Devices and other items to the various associations of Persons With Disability (PWD) .
The programme which attracted Persons With Disabilities(PWDs) across the 31 Local Government Areas featured the distribution of mobility devices, rehabilitation, financial empowerment, educational materials and scholarship for students with disabilities.
At the event held at Women Development centre,Uyo governor Emmanuel who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan said the provision of the facilities was in line with his administration’s commitment to making life more abundant to the PWD.
Governor Emmanuel said Government’s gestures are clearly seen in the consistent provision of mobility devices, rehabilitation, financial empowerment, educational materials and scholarship for students with disabilities.
Other items donated to the PWDs included special android phones, Sewing Machines, Hair Dressing equipments, Generators, complete musical instruments, wheel chairs.
Also Elbow/armpit clutches, computers, prosthesis, hats and sunscreen were donated to Persons with Albinism in addition to the financial empowerment
The governor hinted the gesture in the spirit of leaving no one behind in the developmental agenda of his government.
He therefore urged them to support his continuity and succession plan to further engender inclusion and gender mainstreaming.
According to him, the Day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly geared towards the promotion and understanding of disabilities matters via advocacy, sensitization and empowerment of PWDs thus mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of PWDs to contribute meaningfully towards the progress and development of the society.
He noted that the theme for 2022 stressed the role of Innovation in fueling an accessible, affordable, available, acceptable, adaptable and equitable world thus ensuring political, social, economic, and cultural inclusivity at the State, National and International levels.
The governor stated that Assistive Technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetic devices, Braille, canes, spectacles, text-to-speech software, among others.
He stated that PWDs are able in different ways/capacities and that is what makes them strong, unique and special thus not to be seen as a curse from nature rather to complete the creation. The only disabled person is the one in the grave since the present PWDs are alive they should rise to the faith of greatness.
Dr. Adiakpan charged PWDs to make optimum use of the enabling environment and inherent resources created by Governments to improve themselves and the society at large.
Speaking on the theme “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development; the Role of Innovation in Fueling Accessible and Equitable World” the commissiiner said that there is need to take advantage of technological advancements in promoting the dignity, rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
In his remarks Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Joint National Association of Persons with (JONAPWD) Comrade Anietie Jackson thanked God for making the day a reality.
Comrade Jackson appreciated the State Government led by His Excellency, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for being passionate about the PWDs in the State and for providing adequate resources to cater for their needs.
In reference to the theme, Mr. Jackson appreciated the Honourable Commissioner, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, who has always encouraged them to be internet active to access the globe for the greater good of PWDs through innovation.
He used the opportunity to charged the physically challenged to explore the internet space and show the world their creativity.
All the five cluster heads; Ubong Ben for the blind, Mrs Nnene Bassey, for the Al bin-is, Timothy Itam for the Leprosy and Aniefiok Etuk for the physically challenged applauded His Excellency and his admirable wife
The cluster heads prayed for God’s continuous protection, support to his excellency, his family, all his endeavors, all PWDs, the Akwaibomites and Nigeria.
The beneficiaries who were elated by the intervention also appreciated the Government for her interest in PWDs wellbeing.