Project Enable unveils 30 most aspiring young persons living with disabilities- Official

Mr Olushola Owonikoko, the Executive Director, Project Enable Africa, says the Nigeria Disability Act should be given more expression to protect people living with disabilities from all forms of discrimination and abuse.

Owonikoko made the assertion on Wednesday at the 2020 Project Enable Inclusion and Leadership Awards/Business Support Pitching Competition organised to commemorate the 2020 International Day of Persons Living with Disability in Lagos.

“The Nigeria Disability Act should be given more expression so that the right of persons with disability will be better protected from all forms of discrimination and abuse,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day for People Living with Disability is marked every Dec. 3 globally.

“We are having this event today to celebrate the International Day of Person Living with Disability, and to also to bring young entrepreneurs with disability to talk about their activities and showcase their talents.

“We are not here to talk about their challenges, because we know they exist.

“People with disabilities can also contribute to the development of the society, and that is the message we are passing to the government and society,” the project executive director said.

He said the award and competition was put together to unveil the 30 most aspiring young persons living with disabilities, and the business support pitching competition with a cash price of 1,000 dollars.

According to him, the business support programme was initiated after the COVID-19 lockdown to support persons with disability who are entrepreneurs, to run and upscale their businesses.

“We started the programme to empower persons with disability to work from the comfort of their homes, after impacting them with knowledge and skills.

“So, we are ending the programme with the business support pitching competition, so that some of the selected participants in the programme can talk about their businesses.

“The fund for the programme, which cost five million Naira, was provided by Access Bank and ECT Foundation, and they have reiterated their commitments to support us next year.

“Plans are already on to ensure that 300 people across the country benefit from our business programme next, so as to give opportunity to more people with disability.

“The 30 most inspiring young persons with disability unveiled were nominated by people in their various communities through an online process,” Owonikoko said.

Also, Mr Kola Olugbodi, the Lead Faculty of Project Enable Africa, advised people with disability to stop looking down on themselves.

“Today’s programme is part of the things we do in Project Enable to empower and assist people with disability.

“I also live with disability and I know what it takes to forge ahead and this takes a lot of self determination and encouragement to become somebody in the society,” Olugbodi said.

Also, Mr Dare Oluwadairo, the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), commended the NGO for supporting PLWD in the society.

Oluwadairo reiterated the commitment of the state government to collaborate with organisation that were keen in making life more meaningful for people with disability.

NAN reports that a short documentary on people living with disability was shown at the event.