Lagos employs 250 physically-challenged, disburses N55m others

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

lagos—In order to curb alms begging in Lagos State, the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has disclosed that 250 physically challenged persons have been employed by the state government, to assist People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in the state.

Ambode added that the 250 PLWDs would be handed their letters of employment to specify terms and conditions of their employment into the state civil service and local councils.

The governor disclosed the employment at presentation of N55 million to PLWDs and Non Governmental organisations (NGO), vehicles and employment grants to PLWDs in Ikeja yesterday which was also attended by former commissioner for education, Olayinka Oladunjoye, and his aides.

He said the employment was in fulfillment of the government’s promise made recently at the quarterly townhall meeting held in Ojo Local Government.

Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, stressed that the employment was the government’s strategy to support PLWDs to realise their dreams in the state.

Also to ensure they realised their dreams, the governor noted that the items been distributed was to move away from previous charitable orientation of empowerment towards a more socially and economically-oriented approach.

According to Ambode, the new approach will assist PLWD to become wealth creators and employers of labour in the state.

He said: “For the first phase of the programme, we are presenting vehicles, equipment and funds to enable individuals, homes and NGO’s take charge of their futures, start businesses and create wealth for themselves.”

Earlier, Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, listed some of the items distributed by the government to include a 30-seater bus, a 12-seater mini-bus, 500 white canes, 10 accessable desktop computers with jaw screen reader.

Others were 350 special wheelchairs for people with spinal cord injury, 100 Taylor frames, 25 computer laptops, 60 magnetic board and 20 Tactile metric sets.

The post Lagos employs 250 physically-challenged, disburses N55m others appeared first on Vanguard News.