The management of the first private university in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis University on Tuesday doled out huge support to persons living with disabilities in the state.
In a bid to drive inclusive education and employment, the management of the university announced total support with scholarships, donations and employment opportunities for children and members of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disability (JONAPWD), Cross River State chapter.
This was made known during an official visit by the University Management to executives and members of JONAPWD in Calabar.
Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, Chancellor of the university, while speaking on the essence of the visit recalled that when the University was in its birthing stage, his aspirations always have been to provide platforms that promote inclusiveness, adding that the visit was a dream come true.
His words, “…before the license for the University was signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wrote in my diary that we have to collaborate with persons with disability in Cross River State.”
Touched by the stories of stigmatization of members of JONAPWD, the Chancellor reiterated that the challenges facing persons with disability are enormous and should not be left in the hands of government alone as private individuals and institutions have vital roles to play.
He also took a shot at addressing the challenge of unemployment amongst persons living with disability by extending employment opportunities to accommodate the five per cent employment benchmark issued by National Disability Act section 8 subsection 5c passed into law in 2018 by the National Assembly.
Arising from the above, the University Management further pledged to be part of all activities of JONAPWD.
A high point of the meeting was the release of financial donations made available to support the activities of the association.
Executive members of the association were urged to profile the names of children of members who qualify for university education as scholarships into the department of their choice await them immediately.
The State Coordinator of JONAPWD, Dr Livinus Okpa expressed amazement by such gesture, expressing deep gratitude, noting that history has been made, as Arthur Jarvis University is the first private institute to provide such interventions to ameliorate the numerous of JONAPWD and its membership.
“Thank you for choosing to be the feet to the lame, voice to the dumb, ears to the deaf and eyes to the blind” he solemnly expressed.
Other challenges experienced by persons living with disability, according to the State Chairman, include lack of office space for administrative duties, mobility for members and implementation of the National Disability Bill.
The University Management made it known that the donations, scholarships and job opportunities extended to the association will have ripple effects and will subsequently be addressed. In the same vein, the Chancellor made an appeal to become one of the patrons of the association.
JONAPWD is an umbrella organization of persons with disability established in Nigeria to promote the rights and development of Nigerians with disabilities. Adding that “the organization was established in 1992, to represent the interests of the teeming population of persons with disabilities at the local and international level.”
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