Physically Challenged Seek Equal Treatment

The President, National Handicap Carers Association of Nigeria (NAHCAN), Mr. Adewale Adeyanju has lamented the prejudice faced by the physically-challenged in their work places and educational institutions.

He appealed to the able bodied men and women not to treat the physically-challenged with pity but encourage them to make use of their abilities. “We don’t want to be treated like second class citizens. We want to be treated equally to contribute our quota to the development of the society,” Adeyanju stated at a public lecture held at NECA House, Agidingbi, Lagos State.

Other speakers at the lecture also stressed the need to do away with the giver-beggar mentality that is rampant among the able-bodied.

The theme of the public lecture was ‘Quality and Effective Service Delivery,’ and it was aimed at creating awareness for the disabled population and their challenges.

Speakers included Mrs. M.F. Utomi who represented Mr. Ade Ipaye, the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice; representatives of the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State Universtity Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Tochi Okpuru, who represented the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Lagos.

The speakers spoke on the challenges faced by the disabled and how government can assist them.

A short fundraising was held for the ICT programme of the association.

—Oluwafunmilola Olagunshina