Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
A German based non Governmental Organization known as BruderHilfe Social Development Initiative has distributed 90 mobility carts to Persons Living With Disability in Bauchi State as part of its determination to enable them move around with ease as they go about performing their daily activities in the state.
This is so as the Bauchi state government vowed to uplift the general well-being of persons with disability promising to constitute Board of Agency for Parsons with Disability in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the initiative was a collaboration between a German-based Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), BruderHilfe with the Nigerian Embassy in Germany in partnership with the Bauchi State government.
Distributing the mobility carts yesterday at a well attended ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, Government House Bauchi, yesterday the President BruderHilfe, Mrs. Mary Bamigbe Bruder said that the
mobility carts are meant to cushion the hardship been faced by physically challenged persons in the state.
According to her, “the mobility carts are humanitarian support from Bruder-Hilfe, an NGO based in Germany, in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy in Germany and in partnership with the Bauchi State government”.
She added that “This is our first phase of intervention in Bauchi State, covering a total of 90 beneficiaries carefully selected by the Bauchi State government.
She said that, the mobility carts are meant to cushion the hardship been faced by physical challenge in Bauchi state.
“This our first phase of intervention in Bauchi State, covering a total of 90 beneficiaries carefully selected by the Bauchi State State Government”.
Mary Bamigbe Bruder revealed that her second project in Bauchi would focus on Heath and education, adding that Bruder Hilfe would continue to more by putting smile on the faces of vulnerable members in Nigeria.
She explained that the beneficiaries are victims of polio and they have suffered in life “it is important to note that catering for the needs and welfare of the vulnerable is a collective responsibility, as enjoyed by both religious. It is therefore, incumbent on all of us to support and take care of the needy in our society”.
The President of the NGO pointed out that the mobility cart can serve two purposes ease their day to day movement and allow them to start a business at ease since the cart has all the facilities to accommodate micro business.
Subsequently, our other interventions will focus on health and education. A lot of these beneficiaries are victims of polio and they have suffered in life. Let me assure you that Bruder Hilfe will continue to do more by putting a smile on the faces of vulnerable members of the society.”
She, however, noted that catering for the needs and welfare of the vulnerable is a collective responsibility, as enjoined by both religions and is, therefore, incumbent on all of the people to support and take care of the needy in the society and challenged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the carts to improve their standards of living reminding them that having a disability is not the end of the world.
In his remarks, the state Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said his administration will promote and uplift the general well-being of persons with disability by encouraging the public to change their negative perception against them.
The Governor said that to achieve the desired objectives, the administration will soon constitute the Board of Agency for Parsons with Disability.
He said the distribution of the devices will no doubt cater to the needs of the beneficiaries thereby addressing one of the most important needs of any human being, which is locomotion.
The Governor also said the tricycles would provide an opportunity for them to maximize their potentials, thrive and contribute valuably to the society and and nation as a whole.
He assured the readiness of his administration to continue to aggressively pursue policies and programmes that will transform the lives of the people of the state irrespective of age, tribe, religion or infirmity.
“Let me congratulate all persons living with disability in Bauchi state on this auspicious occasion and I want to charge them to maximize the opportunities and platforms that have been provided for them by the present administration.”
“I wish to reassure you, this Government will continue to encourage you to be united in the pursuit of your dreams of social inclusion.”
The Governor reiterated the commitment and desire of his administration to improve the quality of lives of the disabled persons by ensuring that, they enjoy their full rights and privileges as citizens of the state.
According to him, the administration will also formulate and implement policies and guidelines as appropriate for the education and social development of persons with disability.
He enjoined individuals endowed with wealth, corporate organisations and indeed institutions to always factor the less privileged, especially the vulnerable ones and others with challenges of disability in their charitable and intervention initiatives.
“I am very pleased that, Bruder Hilfe is the first organisation among the five organisations that we have signed an agreement with them during my official working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany in March, 2020.”
“It was a very productive visit, I signed a total of five Memorandum of Understanding in the areas of Agriculture, Education, Road Construction, Water and Sanitation.”
Governor Bala Mohammed said to actualize all the arrangements reached with the German investors, he has already constituted various inter-ministerial implementation committees to ensure that, full benefits are derived from the MoUs. END
