WorldStage Newsonline– The Minister of Youths Development, Jamila Ibrahim, says 10 percent of the ministry’s intervention programmes would be allocated to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Speaking on Tuesday when she met with the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Dr James Lalu, in his office in Abuja, the Minister also expressed readiness to provide necessary support to ease the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the national youth policy.
The meeting which was at the instance of the executive secretary centred on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in National Youths Policy of the Tinubu’s Administration.
She said, ” We had a very fruitful deliberations on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the national youth policy and the 10 per cent disabilities quota that was requested to be included in all of the ministry’s activities.
”And I assured the executive secretary that the ten percent inclusion request would be granted God’s willing and I look forward to working with the commission to ensure that the rights of young people with disabilities are protected.
” For them to leave with dignity and earn good sources of livelihood and to take young people out of the streets as many as possible to give them as dignified life,” Jamila said.
She said that the ministry intend to specifically partner with the commission in the areas of training persons with disabilities across in some programmes the six geo-political zones of the country.
” These programmes include mentorship to be run by an agency under the ministry of youth that’s centre for leadership training.
” We are hoping to bring more young people to learn about leadership skills that is required to actually address challenges affecting persons with disabilities.
”Because, leadership requires that we build capacities that would ensure that the voices of the constituencies that we represent are well heard and acted upon,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Lalu expressed gratitude to the minister for considering their request for allocation of a ten percent slot in all intervention programmes of the ministry.
”We are glad to hear your commitment to allocate ten percent intervention opportunities to the Disability community, this is very encouraging.
” What this mean is that we are going to see Persons with Disabilities in the citizenship and leadership training centre.
”So, that our people would acquire leadership skills and in the next chapter of this administration will see PWDs emerging as Ministers,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Bala, said, they are working assiduously to make the institution an inclusive centre for disability studies.
Bala expressed commitment to expand their existing admission quota to accommodate more persons with disabilities in the university.
