The Paramount Ruler of Onna, Edidem Raymond Inyang, has pledged commitments to inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the implementation of Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Inyang made the pledge on Friday when he received a delegation from the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) on an advocacy visit with support from the Ford Foundation.
Our Correspondent reports that the advocacy visit was part of efforts to ensure that PWDs participate in host community development activities and benefit from their programmes.
The paramount ruler lauded the group for its advocacy efforts, emphasising the need for PWDs to ensure the advocacy was holistic, by taking it to the communities to accommodate all persons with disabilities.The royal father added that he would mandate village heads to get involved and avoid discrimination against persons with disabilities in communities.“I would like to call all the village heads, instruct them to go back to their village councils and youths, and let them know just what you have told me. That it is good to belong to a community even when you live with disabilities,” Inyang said.
Inyang called on CCD in Akwa Ibom, especially in the Onna community, to have a proper database that captures all persons with disabilities saying that the database will be a guide for proper planning to give assistance to persons with disabilities.
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom Coordinating Secretary of CCD, Mr Victor James, thanked the paramount ruler for the audience, leadership, and anticipated support.
James said the visit aimed to seek the inclusion of PWDs in structures, programmes and benefits established under the PIA Act Host Community Development Trust.
He appealed for adequate representation of PWDs on host community development committees and their consultation on projects and programmes affecting persons with disabilities.
The secretary solicited for equitable access to empowerment programmes, skills development, scholarships, employment opportunities and other benefits arising from host community development programmes.
“We appeal to Your Majesty to encourage the relevant HCDT authorities and community leadership structures in Akwa Ibom, especially Onna to ensure that qualified and credible persons with disabilities are considered for appropriate representation.“We request that the needs of PWDs be considered when community development projects are identified, prioritised, and implemented,” he said..
