BENIN CITY – The Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Edo State Chapter, will today honour the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as Patron of JONAPWD.
This was disclosed by JONAPWD state Chairperson, Ann Obehi Ojugo, during a Roadwalk show organised by the group to mark this year’s International Day of Persons With Disabilities, tagged “Leadership and Participation of Persons With Disabilities”, yesterday in Benin City.
Members of the group during the Roadwalk yesterday brandished different advocacy placards with various inscriptions such as “Support Nigeria Disability Bill”, “Support the full implementation of the National Disability Act”
Speaking with newsmen, Ojugo, commended the Edo State Government for its strides and support to the JONAPWD overtime, adding that the group in a way to appreciate governor Obaseki will today honour him as Patron of JONAPWD.
She explained that every December 3, is set aside as a day to celebrate persons with disabilities across the world.
“We talk about our achievements and create awareness about persons with disabilities and people should know that people with disabilities are their brothers and sisters.
“We want to use this opportunity to advise people to stop discriminating against us as we are not disabled. It is the society that makes us disabled
“If we have all the needed social amenities, no discrimination and we are living well, we can maximise our potentials to more productive usage than some able persons”, he asserted.
The State Chairperson of JONAPWD, however, appealed to the state government to expedite action in the passage of the Disability Bill into Law.
She explained that the Disability Act is for the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society and establishes the National Commission for Persons with disabilities and vest the commission with the responsibilities for their education, healthcare, social, economic and civil rights.
