Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
As part of activities commemorating this years United Nations (UN) International Day for persons living with disabilities, two Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Big Church Foundation and Lions Club International recently carried out free cataract surgery on 50 visually impaired persons and also donated 400 eye glasses to people.
The NGOs, as part of its advocacy campaign also organised a 5,000 man walk to end stigmatisation against Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Olakunle Churchhill stated that Nigerians need to show persons with disabilities love and not sympathy.
He explained that the eye surgery with the theme; “Get Your Sight Back”, was handled by Lions Club District 404A2, in order to bring succour to the visually impaired persons.
Churchill explained that the foundation has also concluded plans to empower 37, 000 youth; 1,000 from each state of the federation in the creative industry agriculture, mining and Information Communication Technology (ICT), as part of effort to eradicate poverty in Nigeria.
According to him, ‘’We deemed it fit to mark this day annually with the aim of identifying and understanding disability issues and mobilise support to stop it. We also seek to increase the awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disability.
‘’We seek to end all form of stigmatization for people living with disability. Make them self-reliant and independent,” he said.
Churchill stated: “towards the implementation and achieving the sustainable development goal in Nigeria, Big Church Foundation has taken the step to empower 37,000 youths, 1,000 from all state of the federation.”
The walk that was held last Saturday started at Eagle Square, and terminated at Millennium Park where capacity building programmes also held.
On his part, the National Secretary of Persons Living with Disabilities, Comrade Musa M. Musa commended the group for the intervention, adding that the disabled persons have benefited immensely from the group.
