Senior special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on disability matters, Abba Isa has said that the Federal Government is keen to implement the five percent employment quota for persons with disabilities.
This is just as the Abia State Commissioner for Sports, Nwaobilo Ananaba received the successful athletes from the physically challenged sports club at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, umuahia.
Isa spoke through Comrade Onyebuchi Stanley during the 2023 para sport symposium/soldier of the Clutch award ceremony organised by Abia State Physically challenged sports club in collaboration with Abia State ministry of sports and youth development and Abia state sports council with the theme “living above disability: A Gold Mine so Dirty”.
In his remark, Abia State commissioner for sports and youth development, Mr Nwaobilo Ananaba represented by the Head of Department physically challenged and impeded youths department, Mrs Ukwa Merit Chinyere promised that the ministry will sustain the program, as Governor Alex Otti who believed strongly that there is ability in disability, has directed that all inclusive sports/sporting activities should return to the schools, come January 2024.
Also, former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu in his keynote speech, urged the physically challenged persons to remain focused.
Ononamadu, who passionately appealed to the Abia State government to gazette the Abia government disability law, said that, the budget of any country is not complete if it does not accommodate persons with disabilities.
Equally, he advised physically challenged persons to come under one umbrella to fight for their cause/course instead of operating in splinter splitting organs.
Earlier in his remarks, the convener of the event, Comrade Samuel Ekeoma said the programme was put together to impact more knowledge on physically Challenged persons.
Ekeoma observed that sports is the only activity that attracts a lot of honour to physically challenged persons.
Also a lecture on “Sports: an instrument of investment and development; a case study of Abia State, was delivered by Comrade Kingsley Ngunu, former NIPR boss Abia State Chapter.
Expressing delight for the success of the event, Ananaba, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, who received the Physically Challenged Sport Club in his office, also expressed joy to have them as partners.
He said the governor is happy to identify with the Physically Challenged Persons and the Ministry of Sports is ready to support their activities, as the symposium was also in line with 2023 international day of persons with disabilities which holds annually every December 3rd.
According to him, the budget of the physically challenged persons is been proceed and urged them to present whatever is their challenge through the Ministry.
Furthermore, the Commissioner assured that he has the interest of their welfare at heart.
The Chairman of Abia State Physically Challenged Sports Club, Samuel Ekeoma said the symposium which started on the 29th of November came to conclusion with the presentation of the discovered 42 para athletes to Abia state government which was part of the aim of the symposium.
