BY Ojotule Romanus and Bose Momoh Jimoh
Kogi State office for the People Living With Disability (PLWD), has called for effective collaboration with The Graphic Newspaper in creating awareness for the full implementation of the existing Kogi State Disability Law.
The Executive secretary, Kogi State office for the Disability Affairs, Honourable Yakubu Abdul Kareem, made the call when he led other management staff on a courtesy visit to the managing director of the Kogi State Newspaper Corporation, Mr YJ Itopa in his office in Lokoja recently.
According to the Executive secretary of the PLWD, the collaboration became imperative in view of the numerous challenges faced by the people living with disabilities in the State.
He further pointed out that the collaboration effort is also aimed at strengthening the inclusion and full participation of members in Government planning and budgeting.
Hon Abdul Kareem disclosed that the 2018 Kogi State Disability Law provides 30% employment slots for persons living with disability just as he stressed that the full implementation of the law will go a long way to entrench social justice and as well as open opportunity for Government to address the challenges affecting people with disabilities in the State.
He lamented that, as at today, there are public structures or buildings in the state that the challenged cannot access as such building were not constructed with due consideration of the PLWDs.
Hon Abdul Kareem stressed the need for Government to ensure that all the MDAs in Kogi State obey and adhere to the disability Act 2018 and reserve at least 5% of every employment, empowerment and appointments for the PLWD in the States.
While lamenting over the depladated State of special school across the state, he pointed it that most of the special Schools across have been abandoned thereby, making education difficult for members as the existing published school in the State are not accessible for members.
He appealed to the Graphic Newspaper to help draw Government attention to the many challenges faced by the PLWD in the state in order to ensure that the provision of essential services such as education, health care, housing and employments reach people with disability in the State.
In his response, the Managing Director of The Graphic Newspaper, Mr Yusuf Itopa disclosed that as part of it’s social responsibility, the paper is committed to partnering relevant stakeholders in the state in promoting a better Society for all.
While emphasizing the importance of the media, he assured them that the Graphic was ready to play a vital role in raising awareness, countering stigmazation and misinformation as well as drawing government attention to their plight.
Mr Itopa urged the PLWDs to also engage other media outfit in the state so as to ensure wider coverage of their programme just as he stated that the Graphic on it’s part will promote policies and programmes that supports the right of the PLWD in the State to ensure equity and peace of the society.
He advised them to keep the Graphic informed of their programme so as to showcase their skills and create more awareness in the ability on their disability.
