Local production of assistive devices will improve lives of PWDs, says Lalu

James Lalu, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), says local production of assistive devices for PWDs will make life easy for them.

Lalu spoke when he received a delegation from CBM Global Disability Inclusion, an organisation championing the inclusion of PWDs, recently in his office in Abuja.

The NCPWD boss told the delegation that the current economic hardship in the country is having negative impacts on PWDs.

“It will surprise you to know that the Braille machine which used to sell for N300,000 is now sold for about 3 million naira, implying that only a few persons would be able to afford it,” Lalu said.

He said the situation has made the commission take steps with the appropriate authorities to revive the braille centres across Nigeria.

“The project is one that is capable of serving as a foreign exchange earner to boost the Nigerian economy,” he added.

He said Nigeria is planning to host the African Disability summit which will involve more than 50 countries that will converge to deliberate on disability inclusivity.

“Leadership transition is very key and to further enhance the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria will showcase the strategic approach as applied so far towards achieving disability inclusivity on all fronts,” he said.

He hinted that the commission is working closely with various Nigerian universities to develop sign language in different dialects to increase students’ capacities for easy communication.

Lalu said Nigerian universities such as the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State University, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Enugu, and the University of Ilorin have all agreed to award degrees in sign language studies.