By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for the economic, cultural and social empowerment of PWDs to alleviate poverty and end street begging amongst them.

A cross section of the Original Inhabitants with Disabilities made the call at a Consultative Forum on the state of their plight in Abuja on Monday.

The forum, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Mac Arthur Foundation, has the theme: “Promoting the Economic, Cultural, Social and Political Rights of FCT Original Inhabitants with Disabilities.

The President, Original Inhabitants with Disabilities in the FCT, Festus Yakubu, emphasised the need for the physically challenged to be culturally, socially and economically empowered.

Yakubu appealed to political elites in the area to adhere to the disability act signed into law by late President Muhammadu Buhari to enable them have good livelihood instead of street begging.

He recounted the decades of hardship PWDs endured, being treated as second-class citizens in their ancestral land.

“For far too long, we felt neglected, rejected, and denied access to basic rights and benefits. We were forced to live on the fringes of society.

“Many of us who were once forced to beg now have the means to earn a living,” he said.

Yakubu added that the situation changed in 2023 at the launch of a transformative programme by MacArthur Foundation, aimed at empowering the community through skills acquisition and advocacy.

According to him, over 200 members were trained in trades such as bag making, metal fabrication, shoe making, and crafts.

He said these practical skills not only opened income-generating opportunities but also restored the self-worth of the PWDs.

Yakubu also described the intervention as a historic turning point for the people, noting that the programme led to the distribution of empowerment tools and assistive gadgets, further enhancing the community’s ability to participate fully in society.

On her part, the Chairperson, Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers Association and the wife of Ona of Abaji, Hajiya Hawa Adamu, promised to canvass more for the cultural and political inclusion of PWDs in the FCT.

She called for a change in how society perceive and treat PWDs, stressing the need to continue to amplify for dignity, rights, and equal opportunities for all.

Adamu, who underwent knee replacement surgery due to arthritis, explained that her journey had given her a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

“Disability is not a limitation. It is a natural part of human diversity. Every home will find somebody with one disability or the other.

“Disability should never be seen as a barrier, and inclusion must not be treated as charity but as a basic human right,” she affirmed.

She commended the foundation, emphasising that financial inclusion and access to economic opportunities were essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and dependence.

Also, the Chairman, Joint National Association of PWDs, FCT Chapter, Joseph Wakili, called for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities centres in the territory.

One of the most impactful outcomes of the initiative has been the transition from street begging to self-sufficiency.

NAN reports that FCT has more than 3,000 original inhabitants with disabilities who are natives with various physical challenges in the six area councils of the FCT.

Some of these persons are physically challenged with conditions such as visual impairment, amputated arms and legs, hearing and speaking impairment among other challenges. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi