The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has intensified efforts to promote the inclusion and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta, organising an empowerment outreach for youths and women with disabilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The outreach, held to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, focused on equipping beneficiaries with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to overcome barriers and participate fully in society.
The Director, Culture and Women Affairs, NDDC, Mrs Ahunna Imoni, said disability should not limit an individual’s potential, stressing that true ability lies in the mind, creativity and determination to overcome challenges.
Imoni urged the beneficiaries to know their rights, develop their skills, embrace available opportunities and step out of their comfort zones to turn challenges into opportunities.
Also speaking, the Director, Office of the Public Defender and State Coordinator, Rivers State, Dr Evelyn Membere Asimiea, Esq., commended the NDDC for supporting persons with disabilities and promoting their inclusion.
Asimiea, however, stressed that empowerment should go beyond financial and material support to ensure sustainable inclusion and improved opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Similarly, a Professor of Human Rights and Disability Rights at Rivers State University, Prof. Oby Peters Adiela, called for a shift from viewing disability through the lens of charity to adopting a rights-based approach that promotes dignity, participation and equal opportunities.
Participants commended the commission for the gesture and promised to make good use of the knowledge and skills acquired.
