Anambra State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD, Comrade Ogochukwu Okeke, has said that with adequate knowledge, skills and resources, Persons Living with Disabilities could be employers, rather than job seekers.
Comrade Okeke stated this on Friday, at a one-day training programme organized for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDS), to acquaint them with the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC plan e-voting and other Information Communication Technology appliances in Awka, Anambra state capital.
He pointed out that the training was to build members’ capacity to enable them move from Analogue to Digital World, adding that the training was in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria which was launched by the Federal Government in 2019.
Comrade Okeke disclosed that this would also prepare them ahead of the INEC’s planned electronic voting (e-voting), in view of the November 6, governorship election in Anambra State.
He further hinted that people with disabilities contribute 67 per cent in Nigeria electoral process, especially voting during elections.
The State JONAPWD Chairman tasked all participants to consider the training as a rare opportunity, as there are millions of people living with special needs in Nigeria who do not have the opportunity of being trained, and also urged them to extend the knowledge and skills they acquired to their families, friends and associates in their various communities.
Okeke commended the state governor, Willie Obiano, for providing them with a conducive environment for organising the programme as well as including persons with disabilities in his administration.
In their separate lectures, Mr Ugonna Umeokwanna and Honourable Joseph Collins, said digital technology could break traditional barriers to communication, interaction and access to information, urging the participants to use the new technology (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), to solve most of their challenges.
Governor Obiano, represented by the Special Adviser on Disability Matters, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie, assured that the State Government would continue to give all necessary support, cooperation and collaboration to all persons living with disabilities in the state.
Participants numbering over 75 who were trained, would be given laptops, internet dongles, laptop bags others for practice and self-reliance.
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