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Health

Foundation wants inclusion of persons with disability in national devt

NGO wants inclusion of persons with disability in national devt
NAN-HG-4
Disability
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2017 (NAN) Disability Journey Initiative, an NGO, has called for the inclusion of Persons With Disability (PWD) in national development plans to ensure equal rights, privileges, obligations and opportunities before the law.
Mr Greg Simon, the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Simon said the plight of PWDs in the country was further aggravated by lack of appropriate laws to ensure their full social integration into society through provision of their economic, social and educational needs, among others.
He said the Disability Discrimination Bill before the National Assembly would ensure inclusion of PWD in nation building while realising their full responsibilities as citizens, if passed and accented into law.
“In Nigeria we are seen as second class citizens, and a lot of people think we have nothing to offer to the society.
“However, we want to see a society where every child and adult with any form of disability can rise above their limitations to affect the society they live in.
“We want to be involved in national development at all levels of government; we are educated and highly intellectual in all fields of profession and can contribute to nation building.
“Stroke survivors and victims of polio could be left with physical disabilities but they still have their mental faculty and speech intact,’’ he said.
Simon added that with a law in place, the rights of PWD would also be protected against discrimination at work places and other public centres.
He decried the act of some parents in the northern part of the country using children with disability as means of making money for the family through street begging.
Simon further called on state governments to adopt policies that would stop such acts and penalise parents engaging in such act to serve as a deterrent.
He noted that persons living with disability experience marital discrimination which was worrisome and results to psychological and emotional torture.
Simon appealed to parents and guardians to support their children if they decide to marry persons with disability, adding that they are emotional beings capable of caring, loving and reproducing. (NAN)
TIM/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Al-Makura’s devt strategy will boost human capacity – Lawmaker

Al-Makura’s devt strategy will boost human capacity – Legislature

NAN-HG-5

Development

By Awayi Kuje

Lafia, April 14, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Works says the development strategy adopted by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura would boost human capacity in the state.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Mohammed Okpoku, said this on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

Okpoku (APC-Udege/Loko) said the ongoing construction of bridges and culverts by the State Government would open up rural areas, and stimulate agriculture and socio-economic activities across the state.

However, he said that the committee would sustain its oversight of all ongoing projects in local government and development areas across the state to ensure that the construction of bridges and culverts meet specifications.

The chairman said that the exercise was not meant to witch hunt anybody, adding that the committee was mandated by the House as part of its oversight functions to ensure that quality jobs were done in the interest of peace and development

“Gov. Tanko Al-Makura deserve commendation for constructing rural bridges and culverts across the state as even the communities in which we are representing are appreciative of the governor’s efforts considering the importance of the projects to them for the overall development of the country.

“For example’ in Awe Local Government and Azara Ddevelopment Area that we have culverts and bridges projects, we are satisfied and happy with the quality of work done, it is a very good job and we are also commending both the chairman of the local government, Hon. Hashimu Jada, and the contractor for doing a quality job,” he said.

“The provision of the bridges, culverts and other infrastructure would go a long way in fighting poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and boost socio-economic activities of the state.

“The construction of the bridges and culverts will also reduce the hardship of the people of the state especially the rural dwellers and connect them with other communities thereby boosting their agricultural production and we are urging the governor to keep initiating projects that would impact on the lives of the people,” he said.

According to him, such infrastructural development would also raise the revenue base of the state.

Also speaking with NAN, Alhaji Hashimu Jada, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Awe Local Government, said the council spent over N20 million on the construction of five culverts in the area.

According to him, the projects executed includes Awe Guest House road culvert, Kekura-Ihuma road culvert, Gidan Kosonu Tunga road culvert, Awe-Anpana road two cell culvert and Awe-Anpana single cell culvert.

He also lauded Al-Makura for the release of funds for the construction of the development projects in rural communities of the state.

The chairman called on the people of the area and the state at large to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Al-Makura’s administration to enable them deliver more democracy dividends. (NAN)

AKW/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Association to honour ministers, gov., 2 others for national devt

Association to honour ministers, gov., 2 others for national devt

NAN-H-108

Honour

By Awayi Kuje

Keffi (Nasarawa State), March 6, 2017 (NAN) The Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) says it will honour two ministers, a governor and two others for their outstanding contributions to national development.

Prof. Nasiru Idris, the Chairman, Central Local Organising Committee of the association’s 58th AGM, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Idris said the beneficiaries would be presented with merit awards at the ANG forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

He listed other recipients as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Usani Uguru, and the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin.

Gov. Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa would also be honoured at the AGM, said the chairman.

The other awardees include Prof. Mohammed Mainoma, Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), and Late Dr Akwa Labaris, pioneer Head of Department of Geography, NSUK.

Idris, who is also the Head of Geography Department, NSUK, added that more than 500 participants were expected at the event from within and outside the country.

According to him, the theme of the association’s 58th AGM is: “Geography, Nation-Building and Environmental Change’’.

He said the event is scheduled to hold between March 12 and 17, at the NSUK.

“The conference is expecting over 500 participants from within and outside the country, and we are expecting their arrival from March 12th, 2017, while the opening ceremony will take place on March 13,’’ Idris said.

He said that the event would be chaired by the Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, while the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, would deliver the key note address at the event.

He added that the plenary sessions at the event would feature important issues that would be handled by senior geographers, among others.

Idris also said that the conference would feature secondary school competition to select young geographers that would represent Nigeria at the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) in Serbia, Belgrade, later in the year.

He added that participants would have a field trip to areas of geographical interest and exhibition to complement the theories in paper presentations and the practical aspect. (NAN)

AKW/EEM/MST

Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Kano Govt. awards “lungu kalkal” contracts in metropolis

Kano Govt. awards “lungu kalkal” contracts in metropolis

NAN-H-13
Contracts
Kano, Jan. 13, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Government has awarded four “lungu kalkal” contracts to give face lift to nooks and crannies in Kano metropolis.

The contracts include the construction of Kofar Dan-Agundi to Emir Palace road and three concrete reinforced line, interlocking tiles at Dala, Gwale and Fagge Local Government Areas.

The state Commissioner for Works, Housing, Land and Regional Planning, Alhaji Shehu Haruna, said the four projects were under the state government special programme tagged “Lungu kalkal”.

According to him, the programme is aimed at sanitising the Kano Municipal Local Government Area and its environs.

Haruna said the contract for the construction of Kofar Agundi to Emir’s palace road was awarded at the cost of N288.9 million.

He added that the construction of reinforced contract line drains and interlock tiles at Dala was awarded at the cost of N231 million, while the construction of re-enforced concrete lines drain and interlock tiles at Gwale would gulp N169.6 million.

The commissioner also said that other contract awarded at the cost of N117 million included the construction of re-enforced and concrete line drain at Fagge.

This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Mohammed Sani, the Public Relations Officer in the state’s Ministry of Works, Housing and Land, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday. (NAN)

BO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola