NDDC REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing the necessary support that will enable people living with disabilities to earn sustainable livelihoods.

The NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ibitoye Abosede, made the pledge while addressing members of Niger Delta Great Minds Foundation of People with Deformities, who disrupted vehicular traffic on Aba Road Port Harcourt when they besieged the entrance of the NDDC headquarters on Tuesday.

The action of the Niger Delta Great Minds Foundation of People with Deformities, came barely three weeks after NDDC presented automated mobility and hearing aids to people living with disabilities in the region, through the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD, at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

According to the President of the Niger Delta Great Minds Foundation of People with Deformities, Mr. Emotonye Azikiwe, they came to collect the sum of three million naira promised to them during a courtesy visit of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities to the NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere. He complained that some of them came from different states in the Niger Delta and, therefore, need to be assisted with some money for transport.

However, it could be recalled that during the visit of the umbrella group, which also witnessed the presentation of automated mobility and hearing aids to people living with disabilities in the region, the NDDC Managing Director formally recognized JONAPWD as the umbrella platform for people living with disabilities in the region.

At that occasion, Ekere expressed delight at the unification of the diverse groups claiming to represent the interest of the people living with disability. He said: “I am happy that you have come together to engage the NDDC as a unified group. Now that you are together, we will engage better.”

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated during that event that the Commission’s Directorate of Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs was fully mobilized to engage with people living with disabilities, through JONAPWD. He also directed that they be accommodated in the various skills acquisition programmes being rolled out by the NDDC.