Senate Leader Trains, Disburses N100m to 1,000 People Living with Disabilities
….commends Tinubu, APC’s recognition for PWDs
As part of the conscious efforts to make them economically productive and break away from being fully dependent on people for survival, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has expended a huge sum of N100 million to train and empower 1,000 People Living With Disabilities(PWDs) in Ekiti state.
The Senate Leader disclosed that the beneficiaries, who were drawn across the 16 local government areas, received a sum of N100,000 each, after being trained in certain vocations and skills for them to have the proficiency to operate businesses that can sustain their livelihoods.
Speaking at the conclusion of the two- day training and fund disbursement programme held at BJC Event Centre in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, Senator Bamidele, described the gesture as part of the deliberate attempts to back the pro- people policies being initiated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji to buffer the burden of economic hardship on the vulnerable.
The Senate Leader, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Hon Bunmi Oguntuase, saluted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, for being inclusive, and appointed PWD members into their cabinets to accord them recognition and respect.
The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, appealed to the beneficiaries not to despair over what nature and socio-economic circumstances have bestowed on them, urging them to continually be hopeful and plan for the future.
Describing their situations as pathetic and difficult, considering the environmental hiccups around them, the Senate Leader, said their future can still be bright, if they make judicious use of the opportunities being created for them by good spirited Nigerians and government at all levels.
Senator Bamidele advised that carrying one form of disability shouldn’t be an impediment for them to strive hard to accomplish success in life, saying there are those in their circumstances, who worked assiduously and rose to become the breadwinners in their families.
He urged them to judiciously apply the financial aid to build the skills they acquired during the training session to be able to effectively provide for themselves without resorting to beggary, or become full dependants.
“Let me congratulate all of you at this occasion. What we are doing today is to show that you are critical stakeholders who can’t be sidelined in government. Even at the national level, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed your members into his cabinet, likewise into the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress.
“These buttressed the fact that the ruling party can’t joke with you. Even at the state level, Governor Oyebanji has identified with you and also set out policies as well as taking pragmatic actions in the areas of socio-economic and healthcare to help the PWDs. We, as federal legislators must support these laudable initiatives.
“I want to appeal to you to use this opportunity very well. Nothing is too small to start a business that can make you survive independently. You can’t afford to be fully dependent as full grown men and women. You need to stand on your feet to survive. The good lord will continue to help you”.
Appreciating the gesture, a leader of PWDs in Ekiti State, Mr Olugbenga Obanise, said the Senate Leader has demonstrated the spirit of inclusivity and humility, by remembering the less privileged in his programme execution.
Obanise stated that his members were humbled by such display of compassion and promised unflinching support for the APC- led government in the state, so that more members can be captured into the safety net through the policies being executed by the current administration.
He saluted Bamidele for spending such a staggering amount of money on those who were fondly being despised by the people, describing him as a leader who can be trusted with power, assuring that the funds will be judiciously utilised through effective monitoring and counseling of members.