The wheelchairs were presented to beneficiaries at the Ekiti State Skill Acquisition Centre in Ado-Ekiti by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola.
Speaking at the presentation, Agboola expressed the state government’s appreciation to the organisation for the donation, describing the gesture as a demonstration of its commitment to improving the welfare and wellbeing of persons with disabilities across the country.
She said Governor Biodun Oyebanji had prioritised the welfare of PWDs since assuming office, adding that his administration was creating opportunities for them to realise their potential and contribute to the development of the state.
According to her, the government is working to address societal perceptions that persons with disabilities are incapable of achieving meaningful goals or occupying important positions.
Agboola disclosed that the administration had introduced dedicated free medical services for PWDs in the state and had consistently celebrated the governor’s birthdays with members of the disability community as part of efforts to demonstrate its commitment to their welfare.
Highlighting some of the government’s interventions, she said more than 300 persons with disabilities had received training and empowerment support, while over 3,000 wheelchairs had been distributed.
She added that the government had donated a musical studio to the School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti and provided free meals, among other interventions.
The Special Adviser urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the wheelchairs, expressing confidence that the equipment would ease their mobility challenges and enable them to participate more actively in their daily activities.
Earlier, the Media Director of Beautiful Gate Handicap People’s Centre, Mrs Sandra Yilgwa, who represented the organisation’s chairman, said the donation was part of its humanitarian efforts to complement government initiatives aimed at addressing the mobility challenges of persons with disabilities.
Yilgwa disclosed that each tricycle wheelchair cost approximately ₦170,000 to produce, noting that the organisation had set a target of distributing 43,000 units nationwide to improve the living conditions of PWDs.
She said the organisation was encouraged to extend the initiative to Ekiti State by the various interventions of the Oyebanji administration in support of persons with disabilities.
Also speaking, two former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who facilitated the partnership between the state government and the NGO, said they were motivated by the government’s interventions in the disability sector.
They explained that their decision to facilitate the partnership was driven by a desire to contribute to improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities in the state.
The former corps members said the collaboration was aimed at providing beneficiaries with greater mobility and opportunities for independent living.
