A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Sir David Osunde Foundation, has said that no fewer than 1,500 Persons With Disability (PWD), drawn from across the country, would be empowered at its 31st Edition of Special Easter Monday celebration.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Mr Ikem Uchegbulam, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Uchegbulam said that there would be skills acquisition programmes, scholarships and support materials like wheelchairs and crutches among others for PWDs.
The chairman said that the aim is to impact them spiritually, materially and meet their basic welfare.
He also said that the foundation was pushing for the creation of a ministry that would address the needs of PWDs.
According to him, though we have a commission for PWDs but we are creating an awareness and we believe that the next government would create this ministry to meet the needs of PWDs.
“The six-hour event will hold on April 10 at the Holy Family Society National Pilgrimage Centre at Gosa, Sabin-Lugbe in Abuja at noon.
“The event will begin with a mass, to be celebrated by the Arch Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Bishop Ignatious Kaigama, and John Cardinal John Onayiekan.
“The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, is the guest of honour and Mrs Geogiana Ogbutor is Mother of the Day,” he said.
He added that any PWDs within the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions were free to apply after which thorough screening would be done to give the right persons opportunity to benefit.
The Organising Secretary, Mr. Mallam Muazu, said that the foundation was not a Christian institution but opened to other religion.
He said though Easter was a Christian event, the celebration cuts across all religions, saying that 90 per cent of the beneficiaries were Muslims.
Muazu said that what has kept the foundation going in the past 31 years was consistency, truthfulness and togetherness.
