The Kogi State Government has unveiled the first phase of an empowerment programme targeting persons with disabilities (PWDs), with provisions for skill acquisition centres, Point of Sale (POS) business setups and financial support aimed at promoting economic independence and improving household livelihoods.
The initiative, known as the Ododo Continuity PWD Empowerment Project, is designed to enable persons with disabilities to acquire practical skills, establish businesses, generate income and contribute to the economic development of the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs (KOSODA), Hon. Yakubu Nazir Abdulhakeem, disclosed this on Friday at the presentation of the first phase of the project in Lokoja the state capital where over 100 People With Disability (PWD) were empowered.
While describing it as a demonstration of the state government’s commitment to inclusion, equal opportunity and the welfare of persons with disabilities,
Abdulhakeem said the programme was founded on the principle that empowerment should go beyond providing immediate assistance to creating sustainable opportunities for beneficiaries to become self-reliant.
He explained that the project would establish skill acquisition centres across the three senatorial districts of the state, provide POS business setups with startup packages and extend targeted business support funds across the local government areas.
According to him, the initiative is intended to help beneficiaries develop marketable skills, establish viable businesses, create wealth, support their families and potentially provide employment for others.
He said the programme represented a shift from dependency to self-sufficiency, stressing that persons with disabilities should be given the necessary tools and opportunities to realise their potential.
The KOSODA boss noted that the impact of disability often extends beyond individuals to affect families, marriages and household income, making it necessary to design empowerment programmes that address the wider needs of affected households.
He said the initiative therefore includes financial assistance for couples with disabilities and the Association of Wives of Persons with Disabilities, in recognition of the economic challenges confronting such families.
“When we empower a person with a disability, we empower a family; when we empower a family, we strengthen a community; and when we strengthen our communities, we strengthen Kogi State,” he said.
Abdulhakeem assured persons with disabilities across the state that the initiative was aimed at expanding access to economic opportunities and ensuring that no individual or family was excluded from the benefits of inclusive development.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his support for disability inclusion, empowerment and human development, saying the administration’s interventions had renewed hope and confidence among members of the disability community.
He also commended the First Lady of Kogi State, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo, for her compassion and concern for vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities.
The KOSODA executive secretary further acknowledged the contributions of the Accountant-General of the state, Chief Dr. Habibat Oyiza Tijjani Onumoko whom he praised for supporting programmes designed to advance inclusion and economic empowerment.
He also appreciated the Secretary to the State Government, commissioners, heads and representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, development partners and organisations of persons with disabilities for their contributions to the initiative.
Abdulhakeem emphasised that disability inclusion should not be treated as the responsibility of a single government agency, but as a collective obligation requiring the participation of government institutions, communities, organisations and other stakeholders.
He described the presentation of the first phase as the beginning of a broader effort to remove barriers, expand participation and create sustainable opportunities for persons with disabilities across Kogi State.
He reaffirmed KOSODA’s commitment to working with the state government and relevant stakeholders to advance the welfare, dignity and economic independence of persons with disabilities.
The initiative, he said, reflects the need to move beyond promises to practical interventions that enable beneficiaries to earn a livelihood, participate meaningfully in society and contribute to the development of their communities.
In a paper presentation, the Executive Director of Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, called on the Kogi State Government to fully implement the state’s disability rights law and strengthen policies that promote the inclusion, dignity and economic independence of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
In the paper titled “Beyond Empowerment: Advancing Inclusion, Dignity and Self-Reliance for Persons with Disabilities in Kogi State” Muraina, said that though the state government had recorded progress in disability inclusion through the enactment of a legal framework and the establishment of the Office for Disability Affairs, noting that more deliberate action was required to translate the gains into tangible improvements in the lives of PWDs.
Kogi State Head of Service (HOS), Hajia Falilat Musa expressed appreciation to the State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for his Inclusivity and the concern he has for the People With Disability.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, the HOS urged the beneficiaries to utilize the empowerment items distributed to the them to improve their livelihood.
Items distributed to members of PWD include sewing machines, grinding machines, POS terminals, electric oven among others.
