Abuja, Nigeria – Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has announced that the Federal Government has earmarked 10% of its various social interventions for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The revelation came during the inauguration of several empowerment programs sponsored by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in Abuja.
Dr. Edu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the prioritization of the disability community in all government intervention programs. She stated, “Mr. President has instructed that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation should dedicate 10% of all humanitarian and poverty alleviation interventions to persons with disabilities.”
The minister emphasized the commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and highlighted ongoing initiatives, including conditional cash transfers for 15 million households, with 10% reserved for the disability community. As part of the empowerment efforts, POS machines would be provided to persons with disabilities across Nigeria to act as the last-mile distributors of funds in villages and hard-to-reach areas.
In addition to the POS machines, each beneficiary was announced to receive a donation of N100,000 to kick-start their businesses. Dr. Edu underscored the holistic support, stating, “We have also provided not just the POS machines, but the N100,000 capital for them. We also gave N130,000 each as a scholarship to some physically challenged students in tertiary institutions.”
Further initiatives include N20 million released for the proper registration of businesses through the Corporate Affairs Commission, aiming to empower PwDs to run sustainable businesses instead of resorting to begging. Grants to associations dealing with disabilities and support for educational needs were also emphasized.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. James Lalu, explained that the gesture aimed to empower the disability community to achieve economic self-reliance. The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disabilities, Mr. Bashiru Dauda, assured Nigerians of the committee’s commitment to establishing an effective legal framework protecting the rights of PwDs.
Representatives from the Bank of Industry (BOI) noted the provision of a microcredit loan of N10 million to small-scale business holders, emphasizing that the loan should be accessed without discrimination. Mr. Abba Isa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, challenged stakeholders to support efforts to include PwDs in governance and other social interventions.
The event featured the presentation of scholarship awards to students living with disabilities, marking a significant step toward inclusivity and empowerment in Nigeria.
