The Director, Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Williams Obiozor, has called on the Soludo administration to give more sense of belonging to people with disability and consider giving scholarship to disabled people of Anambra extraction who are interested in pursuing further education.
Professor Obiozor, who made the call after declaring open an advocacy programme organized by the Association of Students with Special Needs of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, said the measure will help members of the disability community continue contributing to the development of the society.
He said the programme is crucial in ensuring steady interaction with relevant stakeholders in order to address challenges the affected students, and indeed persons with disability face.
Professor Obiozor, who charged students with special needs to continue studying hard in order to attract more support from privileged individuals and other donors.
In his remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in Anambra State Dr Emeka Odogwu, represented by Mrs Kasie Abone said disability makes one a special person, regretting that the society is less sensitive to the needs of people, especially people with disability, expressing the hope that the positive change will start from the university.
Contributing, the Anambra State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by Mr. Vincent Onwubuya, who assured that the association will continue to be in the forefront in championing the wellbeing of the people with disability, noted that public private partnership is needed in addressing their challenges.
On her part, a representative of Hope Givers Initiative, Mrs Emmanuela Obika, canvassed for an all-inclusive quality education.
Earlier, the Convener of the advocacy programme and member representing Students with Special Needs in the Students Union Government, of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Miss Precious Ezihe, said members of the disability community in the institution usually face challenges without any form of orientation, part of reasons she organized the event for stakeholders to note their challenges.
The event with the theme, “Bridging the gap for an inclusive education and beyond” attracted media practitioners, relevant non-governmental organizations and members of the academic community, and featured award and drama presentations by visually impaired film academy, as well as music performances by students with special needs.
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