Economic Empowerment
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, on Tuesday said the ministry was ready to empower 100 women with disabilities from the six area councils of the FCT.
Maina announced this in Abuja at the Economic Empowerment training for Women with Disabilities in the FCT.
She said the objective of the training was to improve their livelihoods and would be carried out in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
She said in spite of government’s effort at improving the lives of persons with disabilities, stigmatisation and rejection still persisted.
She said the ministry was hopeful that the empowerment would provide gainful economic ventures which would lead to sustainable livelihood and integration into the society.
``In traditional societies, persons with disabilities are seen as curses, and are discriminated against within their immediate families.
``In spite of several cases of government's effort to ameliorate the conditions of these persons, stigmatisation and rejection still persist on our country.”
She urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity given to them to improve their livelihoods, thereby participating in socio-economic sector of the society.
Maina thanked corporate organisations and development partners carrying out humanitarian support for vulnerable persons and called for more support to better their lives.
Atere Oludare, Deputy Director, Social Welfare, FCTA, thanked the ministry for its effort at improving the lives of persons with disabilities.
He said the FCTA would continue to seek partnership to rid the federal capital of street begging.
Olufunke Baruwa, Desk Officer, Gender, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, reiterated government's effort at improving the lives of vulnerable persons.
Baruwa said her office would intensify collaboration with the ministry to continue to improve lives of persons with disabilities.