Look beyond challenges, people with disabilities charged
By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
|
Persons with disabilities have been charged to look beyond their conditions and harness their God-given potentials for self sustenance and economic development.
Various stakeholders at the first “Thisabilities conference” held in Akure by the Mindfarm Development Initiative in collaboration with the Ondo State Agency For Welfare of Persons With Disabilities for this category of people gave the charge in separate interviews with The Hope.
According to the Secretary of the Agency, Mrs Temitope Fasuyi, the conference was organised to build the capacity of persons with disabilities so as to discover their talents.
The Secretary who posited that street begging is no longer in vogue added that they should not limit themselves as there is ability in disability.
While saying that the programme is part of the mandate of the Agency to reach out to partners and donors to complement government efforts ,she hinted that a donor recently empowered persons with disabilities with various items and equipment.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Persons with Disabilities, Mrs Folasade Arise commended the state government for taking their welfare as priority through various support for their programmes.
She advised persons with disabilities to move on with their lives by being hardworking, noting that God has deposited talents and gifts in individuals to rule his or her world.
The Executive Director, Mindfarm Development Initiative, Mr Oladapo Olotu informed that the conference which is the first of its kind is to leverage on the skills and abilities of the participants to create what they need for self sustenance.
Akure South President of Persons with Disabilities, Comrade Falayi Mayowa and the General Secretary, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Mr Abiodun Olusegun averred that the conference is an eye opener for their members to discover themselves and become useful to the society.
They affirmed that street begging cannot make a person, but through commitment and determination, they will achieve what able people are achieving.
