The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has pledge support for local producers of assistive devices for persons with disabilities (PWDs), with the aim of ensuring that millions of them enjoy the right of independent living, inclusive and participation of local production of quality and affordable assistive devices.
According to a statement Wednesday, signed by the deputy director of Information, Rhoda Iliya Ishaku, the minister disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a 3-day capacity building of identified local producers of assistive technologies (AT) held in Makurdi, Benue state.
Represented by the Director Special Needs, Mrs. Onwukwe Florence Nkechi, Farouq noted the importance of assistive devices as stressed in Article 20 (a-d) of the United Nations Convention on the rights of PWDs, urging state governments to support the entities that produce mobility aids, devices and AT.
Farouq disclosed that the Ministry was working in collaboration with partners to nurture and harness the potentials of PWDs as well as promoting the activities that could enhance their interaction, mainstreaming empowerment for a more sustainable economic, social and political growth of the nation.
She urged the participants to look inward as the cost of importing the devices were becoming so high for the Federal Government and challenged the participants to deliver and match up with foreign counterparts.
She informed the participants that the Federal Government, through the Ministry, has demonstrated strong leadership in policy making through the revised 2019 National Policy on Disability and Disability Act, notably a strategy for improving AT production, procurement and provision is being developed in collaboration with partners.
She urged the participants to maximize the opportunity and utilize efficiently the little support that would be provided at the end of the training, adding that the Federal Government remained committed to doing its best to cater for PWDs.
“A nationwide assessment was carried out in the 36 states and FCT to identify how and where government can support. The report has been finalised and the finding will be incorporated into National Strategic Framework of Action,” she said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nurse Alkali, who was represented by the Chief Community Development Officer, Magaji Garba, said the assessment carried out nationwide in the 36 states and FCT between August 2019 and December, 2019 showed that the equipment and facilities of the local producers were outdated and dilapidated, while some had folded up due to lack of capital to strengthen producers because they could not access credit facilities from banks.
He urged the participants to take the training seriously so that Nigeria can become exporters rather than importers of these devices as the Federal Government is committed to be more inclusive in the production of more quality devices locally and providing employment for self reliance.
“The 3 Days capacity building training was first in series planned for implemention across the six geopolitical zones,” he said.
On his part, the representative of the Benue state Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Terumbur Eunice Tachia, expressed her profound gratitude for being part of the workshop designed to nurture and harness the potentials of PWDs in the 36 states and FCT.
She said the administration of the Governor Samuel Ortom has not relented in the responsibility of PWDs, but has established programmes on education, vocational training skills, livelihood, empowerment programmes, which has sustained and equipped them professionally.
