NAN-ND-6
Centre
By Mercy Obojeghren
Asaba, April 23, 2017 (NAN) The Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Delta chapter, has called for the establishment of craft centre for the blind in the state.
The state Chairman of the association, Mr Obruche Omor, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday.
Omor said that having a craft centre in the state would enable more members of the association to acquire skills and become self-reliant.
The chairman said the association incurred huge cost through sponsoring of members to the centre in Lagos due to the distance, adding that it had prevented some from acquiring the skills.
“We stress ourselves taking our visually impaired members to Lagos to acquire skills.
“If we have such a centre in Asaba or any part of the state, it will reduce the stress of going to Lagos.
“Apart from serving the people of Delta, other persons with similar challenges from neighbouring states will come to the centre to acquire some skills.
“It will also help to boost the economy of the state,’’ he said.
Omor commended the state government for setting up a 10-man steering committee to address issues relating to people with special needs in the state.
“I must commend Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for setting up the committee on issues affecting persons with special needs in the state.
“But government should go beyond this; we want an agency or a commission to be in charge of our affairs.
“When there is a commission or an agency it will be properly funded to handle challenges faced by our members in the state,’’ he added. (NAN)
MOA/EMO/IS
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Edited by Ejike Obeta/Ismail Abdulaziz