Investment more in PWDs to reduce begging in Nigeria – Ganduje tells governors

By Jude Opara

Former governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on governors, development partners and well to do individuals to invest more in the Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) to reduce begging in Northern Nigeria.

Ganduje who is also the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said with more investment in technological gadgets, education is now more easier for those with special needs in the society, adding that they could become more useful to themselves and the society.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the documentary premiere of 10th years of Let’s Talk Humanity (LTH), an organization caring for the education needs of the deaf and the blind, Ganduje frowned at the neglect of so many disabled persons in the region, forcing a majority of them into begging.

The event brought together experts in disability education, federal and state governments officials, staff, alumni and students of Tudun Maliki Special School, Kano, with a key note speech from the Vice Principal of the School, Ibrahim Abdukabir, on the impact of Let’s Talk Humanity Initiative.

According to Ganduje, in northern part of Nigeria, people with disabilities are so much relegated to the background, leading to the array of beggars both men and women across the region with nowhere to even sleep.

“Some sleep under bridges, some sleep on the road, this is a sorry story but looking at what we saw this afternoon, you can see that there is a silent revolution if what we have seen could be adopted by our executive governors, development partners and by various philanthropist, there’s no doubt there will be a big change in our society.

“Yes, they are neglected because they are physically challenged. This has affected their psyche, motivation and they cannot even think they are human beings like other beings but unveiling this kind of programme we are making them to be like any other human being in our society.

“Finally, I urge those in authority and development partners to make a great change, t’s fishing.Those physically challenged.Can’t stop begging.They can develop to the extent that they can even be employers of Labour. They can develop to the extent that they can be genius in various fields of endeavors.”

In his remarks, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, who commended the initiative, insisted that the society must bear in mind that before a programme or device is designed, the PWDs should be taken into consideration.

“When we develop assisted devices or technology in general this has to be done with People Living with disability in mind.

“You don’t wait until you do it before you begin to adapt it for people to use, and I believe it is an important point to make. We must move towards a future where accessibility is by design, moving away from retrofitting tools towards building universal platforms, digital must be the priority here, technology should empower individuals to navigate the world on their own terms,” the Minister said.

Earlier in her speech, the founder of Let’s Talk Humanity, Fatima Ganduje Abiola-Ajumobi, said her organisation has been empowering 1000 beneficiaries every year since 2015.

“Seeing the faces of alumni, members of staff, and supporters of Tudun Maliki here today takes me back to the very beginning 10 years ago—when you trusted me with something so important: the future of your education, and the possibility of change through technology.”

Fatima who called on partners, advocates and people who are willing to move from intention to action, expressed optimism that the organization will affect more lives positively in the coming years.

“Our projection for the next 19 years is to be able to have a national center, a National Resource Center for those with sensory impairment, to be able to tap into the international knowledge and the international resources that are available in the parts of the world that are much more developed than us when it comes to special needs”, she concluded.