Experts call on government to employ more physically challenged persons

An appeal has gone to the Federal Government and corporate organisations to employ more physically challenged persons, as well as improving legislations and infrastructural facilities in work and business places to boost their efficiency and productivity.

Chief Executive Officer, Star Children Development Initiative (SCDI), Mrs. Grace Alexander Abimbola, gave this advice at an event themed, Disability Empowerment Awareness programme organised by SCDI in collaboration with Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF).

Abimbola described disability, as a condition that restricts the daily activities of a person, adding, “it could be sensory, physical, intellectual or cognitive impairment. Disability denotes three categories namely, impairments in body functions and structure, limitations in activity and restricted participation in activities.”

Abimbola pointed out that the Convention and Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states, “nobody should be discriminated on account of disability” and maintained that to improve the opportunities of youth with disability, there is need for engaging, enabling and empowering them.

She suggested that government should review and revise existing legislations and policies, which are not consistent with CRPD.

Abimbola revealed, “the convention requires member states to develop and promote training of professionals and staff in order to ensure improved access to assistive devices and technologies and rehabilitation services. This also aligns with the objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO) global disability action plan 2014-2021.

The Executive Coordinator, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, said the foundation’s aim is to empower the poor and less privileged in the community.

According to her, over the years, it has continued with this gesture to ensure that more people are taken out of poverty through viable and sustainable opportunities. “As a result of our dealing with issues of people with disability over the years, we have observed that discrimination is common, and this is a form exclusion or restriction’, which deny them the recognition and enjoyment, on equal basis with others, of all human rights and equal fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.