Wife of the Governor of Anambra State and founder of the NGO, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, has announced that henceforth the government will designate examination and interview centres for persons living with disabilities. who are undertaking recruitment into the state’s civil service.
Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who stated this in Awka while addressing people with visual impairments at an event to mark the 2023 White Cane Safety Day, explained that the action had become imperative because of the severe challenges faced by this group during recruitment processes.
She recounted the story of a visually impaired man who experienced hard time meeting up with the recruitment pressure during the last teachers’ enrollment exercise largely because there were not special provisions for people with disability, and promised that such event will never happen again.
The Governor’s wife, while hailing the special talents of many people with disabilities, urged them to look beyond what people may see as shortcomings and invest their energy in doing extraordinary things with determination.
Speaking about the importance of the White Cane Campaign, Mrs. Soludo called for a change of mindset in the way people see the white cane and those who are walking them.
She explained that an important part of the mindset reset is for the society to understand that a person walking with a white cane needs assistance and not neglect.
The Governor’s wife also called for development patterns that take into considerations the needs of persons living with disability, while pledging that the state government will continue to provide opportunities for people with disability to succeed.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. Tony Ujubuonu, said that through her healthy living initiative, the Governor’s wife has raised interest from even those with disability on the demands of right health.
He said that White Cane Campaign is part of the agency’s corporate social responsibilities, with instructive stands having been placed at strategic points around the state to educate people on the need to help visually impaired persons whenever they meet them.
The Governor’s wife had earlier unveiled one of the instructive boards placed near Aroma Junction Awka, which reads; “White cane campaign for the blind. Be my sight. Be my guide. If you see the cane, ask if I need help.”
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, Chairman of Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie, who donated twenty-five white canes on behalf of the state government, Anambra State Woman Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mrs. Chinyere Onyekesi and her team were present at the event.
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