Access Bank to empower persons with disabilities

ACCESS Bank Plc has restated its commitment to integrate Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in its drive to promote sustainability growth.

According to the bank, the support is part of its laudable initiatives to positively impact on the lives of persons living with disabilities.

Speaking in an interactive session organised by Access Bank in collaboration with US Consulate and Hacey Health Initiative, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi said the bank is committed to create opportunities and help underserved and underprivileged population across Africa to reach their full potentials.

“Recent statistics from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs reveals that there is a 3.2% prevalence of PWDs thereby suggesting that 4.8million Nigerians are living with one form of disability or the other. However, given data collation challenges in Nigeria, there is a widespread belief that PWDs in Nigeria are about 10million, he said.

Though statistics still show massive gap in access to education and employment, we believe that further collaboration amongst key stakeholders will help address these gaps, he added.

In her remarks, Public Affairs Officer, U.S Consulate General, Lagos, Dehab Ghebreab, said: I am happy to note that in Nigeria, including here in Lagos, and across much of Africa, governments at all levels are already learning and taking action to improve access to equal opportunities for the disabled in schools, transportation, hospitals and clinics and especially in workplace.

But government is relatively new to this business. They are looking to civil society, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) formed by creative people with disabilities for ideas. Knowing what works and what does not, are equally important, she said.

Project Director, Hacey Health Initiative, Isaiah Owolabi, said the interactive session was organised to celebrate the lives, opportunities and challenges of persons living with disabilities in the society.