APPEALS: People With Disabilities Commend El -Rufai’s Efforts, Seeks Increase In Membership

APPEALS is a programme of the Kaduna State Government of Mal Nasir El-Rufai with support from the world bank.

He said, the challenges people with disability face in this country is that of lack of capital and business engagement.

“People with disability live under the mercy of the society.” He added.

This is why you find them on the street early in the morning in search of help.

The State Project Coordinator, Dr. Yahaya Aminu, who was represented by Reuben Teddy, Value Chain Facilitator for Ginger at an interactive meeting on Harmonisation of Needs Assessment and Formulation of Livelihood Package for People with Disability and Special Needs (PWDSN), under the Women and Youths Empowerment Program (WYEP),  said the meeting signals the commencement of the harmonisation.

The meeting was aimed at looking at the Needs Assessment document done by the project consultant so as to get inputs from the participants to make it a working document for the implementation of the project.

Out of seventy five thousand people that applied in Kaduna State, one thousand six hundred and fifteen people where short listed and that eighty five of those successful are people with disability. He added.

According to him, the project document captures people with disability and that 5-10% was clearly stated to be reserved for people with special needs.

“They are human beings like us. We want them to live like normal people.”

He explained that why the programme

is giving them special attention, is because some of them cannot  meet their needs, but with the support of the grant, they will be able to venture into viable businesses thereby able to take care of their needs and that of children’s education.

Explaining further he said, there are eleven segments under the Women and Youth programs which includes: Poultry, Ginger, egg and brolier production, fishery, among others.

The technical resource person, Dr. Busra Zakariya’u, however made an appeal to the state government to increase the number from 85 while promising the judicious  utilization of  the grants by members.