Mrs Akeredolu assures disabled of govt’s support
People with Disabilities living in Ondo State have been reassured of government’s continued support and inclusion in the scheme of things.
Wife of Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu made the reassurance in Akure, the Ondo state capital, during the Valedictory for skill training, rehabilitation and empowerment programme for People with Disabilities, organized by Antwort Consulting in collaboration with Ondo State Government and supported by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).
The Ondo state First Lady, who was represented at the occasion by her media aide, Rowland Onyeukwu, observed with dissatisfaction that people with disabilities are often regarded as second-class citizens and thus relegated to the background in terms of societal acceptance, although they make up a significant proportion of our population.
Mrs Akeredolu revealed that the Akeredolu-led administration has given people with disabilities a sense of belonging by the appointment of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Persons, in the person of Honourable Folashade Arise,
for the first time in the history of Ondo state.
She further recalled that her initiative, the Forum for Wives of Ondo state Officials (FOWOSO), during their outreaches across the state ensured that PWDs are carried along, and that most of them performed excellently in the skill acquisition classes, including a good number of them who received FOWOSO’s empowerment items ranging from laptops, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers and wheel chairs.
While advising the beneficiaries of the training and empowerment programme to make ample use of the opportunity, Mrs Akeredolu reassured them of Government’s continued support and inclusion.
In his welcome address, the facilitator of Antwort Consulting, Mr Tamunosaki Berepiki said that for over two-weeks, the firm had delivered a world-class programme that will help to develop sophisticated human resource capacity among PWDs in Ondo state.
He stated that the skills acquired in the program are adequate to enable participants to successfully carry out their business concerns, adding that they will need to have personal commitment, passion and support from all and sundry in order to succeed.
