The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) in partnership with Action Aid, are empowering Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Akwa Ibom State, one of the big oil states in Nigeria, to join the fight against corruption.
At least 200 PWDs in the state have been sensitized on ways of using the Freedom of Information Act in fighting corruption in the country.
The sensitization programme which was organized by CCD in partnership with Action Aid drew participants from the National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (NAPPD), National Association of the Deaf, National Association of the Blind, Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria.
Addressing that participants during the opening ceremony of the three-day capacity building workshop, the Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele, charged the participants to be focused on the training as it would help them demand their right.
Anyaele said the capacity building workshop was to create awareness and build the capacity of PWDs to acquire knowledge and confidence to stand up demand for accountability anywhere they find themselves.
According to him, persons with disabilities have the right to participate in the development of the society, pointing out that when persons with disabilities stand up to fight corruption, everyone would sit up because corruption has taken a lot from this country.
Continuing, he said Nigeria was more than blessed with mineral resources, stressing that If these resources were tapped and used judiciously the country would have no need for oil, adding, ‘’what the country is lacking are leaders that can stand firm on their decision.’’
He said that what persons with disabilities in the country need was empowerment and encouragement because so many of them are educated.
