NGO empowers indigent physically-challenged persons in Edo

By Jethro Ibileke/Benin

A non-governmental organization, recently empowered three indigent physically challenged persons in Edo State.

The Edo state-based NGO, Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), gave Kindness Idahosa, a physically challenged 300-level law student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was given a scholarship worth N70,000, while Peace Eronmonmen, a blind 100 level student of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo state, received a scholarship worth N65,400.

Another physically challenged, Austin Emmanuel, was also empowered by NAPVID with a sewing machine.

The empowerment programme was done at the formal unveiling and flag-off of Project Help.

The Executive Director of NAPVID, Barr. Melody Omosah explained that Project HELP stands for Health, Education, Livelihood and Palliative, and was conceived to give the lifeline to visibly challenged persons in the state.

He described the project as an “intervention for the recipients, with the view to removing barriers that stop them from fulfilling their dreams.”

Omosah who disclosed that the project was in collaboration with the state government, lauded Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Board of Trustee members for making the project possible.

“We met the Edo state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki on the 15th of February, 2021. After explaining to him what NAPVID is doing and the area the organization we would want the government to come in, the governor set up a committee that approved it.

“With Project HELP, over 10,000 PWDs will benefit from health, education, and livelihood support.

“This would assist in reducing high-level illiteracy and dependency ratio among people with disabilities in Edo state. Also, NAPVID would partner with various MDAs of government to drive disability-inclusive policies,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs. Dorcas Idehen, who represented the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed that the government is determined to give attention to the needs of physically challenged persons in the state.

She added that the government decided to partner with NAPVID out of its resolve to incorporate people with visible disability into its policies.

“This administration pays great attention to the needs of people with problems of disability, and that marks the hallmark of social inclusiveness,” she said.

In her reaction, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Kindness Idahosa, thanked NAPVID and the state government for giving her the opportunity to go back to school after the illness that almost ruined her academic pursuit.