Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hazmat, has stressed the need for Nigerians to rally support for disabled children.
This is just as the co-chair of Less Privileged Children Encouragement Initiative, Dr Bukunola Akinlesi, said that out of 10 million Nigerian out-of-school children, between five to seven million of them are disabled.
Akinlesi described the figure as alarming.
Both spoke at the 12th annual charity lecture and appreciation colloquium of the Less Privileged Children Encouragement Initiative held at the Bisi Rodipe Hall, Ijebu Ode, on Monday.
The charity lecture has as its theme “Silent Struggles: Challenges and Coping Strategies for Parents of Children with Mental Health and Disability.”
The commissioner, who was the chairman of the event, said that individuals have the responsibility of doing all they can in their little way to positively impact others, to make life and livelihood better for mankind.
He lauded the various philanthropic acts of the organisation that organised the annual lecture, especially as a partner in the provision of basic amenities across the length and breadth of the state particularly, as it concerns making provision for the needs of school children of various age groups and that of the larger community.
Ganiyu said recently, the organisation helped to resuscitate the borehole of the Magbon community, Abeokuta, which has been non-functional for about 12 years, while pupils of Obafemi Owode Local Government Primary School in the community were also supported
He said, “I, therefore, wish to use this forum to charge the privileged individuals and corporate bodies among us to take a cue from this initiative for the good of our society and general wellbeing of the generality of our people.
“You will all agree with me that it takes a large heart for any individual or group of people to indiscriminately commit the hard-earned resources of this period of global economic meltdown to the wellbeing of others.:
The Commissioner commended the champions of this initiative, Dr. Rotimi Akinlesi, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and his wife, Dr. Bukunola Akinlesi for sustaining the dream for over two decades without minding the manifold challenges that come with such huge humanitarian efforts.
Speaking earlier, Akinlesi said it was disheartening to see disabled children being maltreated by their non-disabled peers and even adults.
Akinlesi said, “It is about time the society began speaking out against discrimination and advocating for the rights of all children, regardless of their abilities,
