Minister, SSA to the President lauds MTN Foundation on 2016 International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD)

The 2016 international day for persons with disability was celebrated in Abuja with the theme: Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want. The event was organized to celebrate people with disabilities in Nigeria and discuss issues that affects them with a view to finding lasting solutions to them.

MTN Foundation (MTNF) was commended by the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters Dr. Samuel Ankeli and Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril for all its interventions in complementing government’s initiatives toward the physically challenged persons in the country.

In her goodwill message, the Director of MTNF, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki explained that, the Foundation acknowledges the fact that people with disabilities have individual abilities, interests and needs. They are people that can make meaningful contributions to the economy if engaged, educated and empowered.

“It is in recognition of these abilities, that the Foundation continuous to complement government’s efforts at meeting their needs. Since inception of these interventions, over 20,000 people with disabilities across the 36 states and the FCT have received various mobility aids and appliances that includes but not limited to wheelchairs, tricycles, armpit & elbow crutches, hearing aids, calipers and Braille machines.” She said.

The Senior Special Adviser to the president on disability matters shared the government’s efforts on reducing limitations of people with disabilities in Nigeria. These he noted are in areas like impairment support, accessible environment, attitudinal change, educational inclusion and empowerment through the National Disability Bill and partnership with other agencies. “We hereby use this medium to call on Non-Governmental partners to lend their support. MTN Foundation has been very consistent in ensuring a positive impact on persons with disabilities and we invite other organizations to emulate them.”

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development also lend her voice to the cause. “Like MTN Foundation, we need to encourage and not pity or discriminate against people with disabilities; they are very intelligent people and I call on every Nigerian to support them so that we can get their full potential. My ministry employs people with disability, my director of rehabilitation is visually impaired and she does a fantastic job.”

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