Issue of employment for people with disabilities is something very pathetic. Usually, we are the first to be retrenched and we are the last to be employed, it is an irony.'These are the pathetic words of the persons with disabilities as the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) held its convention in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital to discuss the issues affecting them and find lasting solutions to their common plight.Speaking during the convention, the Chairman, Convention Planning Committee, Dr Samuel Ankali also said the persons with disabilities do not necessarily need white collar jobs, but empowerment from the government in terms of loans.'We don't necessarily want white collar jobs, equip us, create the right environment, give us loans,' Dr Ankali, a veterinary doctor said.He challenged the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), NEPAD and SMEDAN to include persons with disabilities in their programmes, saying that the much talked about Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved if this group of people were not fully engaged.He said: 'We heard of NDE, NEPAD, SMEDAN; how effectively have they included us' That is why our focus this time has been how inclusive can the MDGs be to carry us along, to give us economic empowerment.'He said the person with disabilities were very well equipped in terms of education and skills, adding that education just simply gives the right attitude, skills and the knowledge to excel.Dr Ankali said: 'If you are talking of education, we have well qualified human beings, but they are without jobs. There are those who have been trained with very effective skills. We make beds and wheel chairs in Kano, and we make shoes in Calabar.'We want empowerment so that our members can produce and be independent. Nobody likes to be a liability, nobody want to be a total dependant. So, it is not our desire, it is not our wish, it is just that society, the world or the environment, has boxed us in.'All we are saying is that we are crying out, create opportunities for us and let us see our potentials come to bear and of course, we will change Nigeria. I think Nigeria as a nation is waiting for potentials in disabled communities to change the era.'The National President of JONAPWD, Mr Danlami Basharu said the group wants to audience with President Goodluck Jonathan on their problems and clamoured for appointments of persons with disability to high political and government offices.Mr Basharu said: 'We really want to address Mr President because he is really not carrying the people with disabilities along in his appointments. There was no minister appointed as a person with disability, no special adviser, there was really nothing. So, we are going to address the legislators, the judiciary and the executive on their failings and their inability to include persons with disabilities in the nation's political, economic and social structure.
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