Millions of Nigerian PWDs require basic education to compete, says disability commission

James Lalu, executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), says more than half of the PWDs in Nigeria require basic education to compete with their peers across the world.

Lalu spoke on Tuesday when he received Rakiya Abubakar, president of the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The executive secretary had earlier said about 35.1 million people are living with disability in Nigeria.

He said disability issues require collaboration to enhance the lives of PWDs.

He added that the commission is willing to collaborate with NAFOWA to improve basic education and social inclusion.

“We are ready and open for collaboration with NAFOWA because one of our mandates is to improve the quality of education, healthcare services and improve general wellbeing of persons with disabilities,” NAN quoted Lalu as saying.

“We hope and believe that this collaboration will see to the improvement of the quality of lives of 35.5 million persons with disabilities across the disability communities in Nigeria.”

The NAFOWA president said the association is determined to ensure continuous advocacy towards achieving quality and inclusive education for PWDs.

“It is our firm belief that everyone, especially persons with disabilities, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potentials,” Abubakar said.

“That is why we are focusing on establishing a special school for people with special needs that will offer education and therapeutic services to help PWDs unlock their potential.”