Our overseas scholarship scheme includes people with disability -Kano govt

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

People With Disabilities, PWDs, in Kano state, with requisite qualifications, will benefit from the recently re-introduced state government overseas scholarship scheme, the State Commissioner for Education, Umar Haruna Doguwa has announced.
This, according to the Commissioner, “is part of a design by the present administration to guarantee fairness and equal access to education for every indigene of the state, in line with international conventions,” the commissioner was quoted as saying in a statement by Ameen K. Yassar,
Director of Public Enlightenment in the ministry on Thursday.
“We will surely offer scholarships to those with First class and Second Class Upper degrees, including those with disabilities, to encourage them to become productive citizens and live meaningful lives,” he stressed.
The statement said Doguwa made this known on Wednesday while responding to comments made by officials of Mercy Corps and Coalition of Disabled Self Advocacy Network Group, two Non- governmental organizations, who jointly visited him in his office.
He said “the government will also look into the possibility of setting up inclusive schools in parts of the state, even as opportunity will be explored to provide inclusive facilities in existing public schools. This is to make sure that people with disabilities are carried along in our development plans”.
He stressed that as part of determination to support PWDs, the state government recently offered 150 NECO examination registration forms to them, urging beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to ensure better living standard.
The Commissioner promised that the state government would not relent in working with Non-Governmental organizations to improve the well being of the people, urging development partners to key into the administration’s policies and programs, to ensure sustainable results.
Earlier, the Nafisa Amadu Abubakar, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Mercy Corps and some representatives of physically challenged persons, urged the state government to support the organization to conduct a peace-building program in the state and ensure that the PWDs are not left out of the government’s developmental plans.