FG Reaffirms Support For Disabled Persons

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to support people living with disabilities in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Assistant Director of Information in the Ministry, Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Katagum disclosed this when she received a delegation from the Network of the Disabled Women, led by the National Secretary, Mary Musa, in her office.

The Minister said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was passionate about the well-being of people with disabilities.

She said this led to the creation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

She stated that the aim was to address their various challenges and mainstream them for better inclusion in the policies and programmes of Government.

Katagum further explained that a lot was being done by the Federal government to support people with disabilities, citing the allocation of five per cent in every track of the MSMEs Survival Fund.

This, according to the Minister was meant to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on MSMEs to people living with disabilities.

She also noted that the Federal Executive Council ensures that every memorandum on new office building accommodates relevant structures to serve people living with disabilities.

The Minister also made it known that her Ministry has a Gender Unit that deals with issues relating to women, especially in business and trade, with due consideration to women living with disabilities.

She urged the delegation to leverage on the training opportunities that abound in the Ministry through its parastatals such as Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

She also noted that the ITF has about 60 vocational skills training with certification and starter packs.

The Minister acknowledged efforts of the Network and advised that a lot of advocacy programmes should be carried out among their various groups, in order to tap into various government’s policies and programmes.

Earlier, the National Secretary, Network of the Disabled Women and leader of the delegation, Mary Musa said that their visit was to introduce the organisation and seek collaboration with the Ministry.

She said this is particularly in areas of mainstreaming into developmental programmes, training in business and trade opportunities, among others.

The Deputy Director, Gender Unit in the Ministry, Achinam Fidel, acknowledged the willingness of the Network to be involved in the Ministry’s programmes and expressed the readiness of the Ministry to work with the organisation.