By Ngozi Nwankwo
Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, NCPWDs Dr James David Lalu has affirmed that Children with disabilities suffer denials to good and inclusive education.
Lalu made the affirmation in Abuja, during the commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the African Child.
He also lamented that Children with various forms of disabilities such as Polio, blindness, deafness and what’s more, are yet to fully enjoy inclusive education in our society.
“Most children with disabilities are discriminated against by their peers, and most sadly within their family circles. Therefore, I enjoin Parents and Guardians to pay attention to the untold challenges facing their wards with disabilities” he said.
The ES further lamented that the sad situation is still prevalent in the society despite the awareness being championed by the Commission and its partners.
Lalu used the platform to galvanize support from all stakeholders in order to give various susceptible groups, especially Persons with Disabilities a sense of belonging to enable them aspire to enviable heights.
However, he underpinned that the theme of this year’s celebration which is tagged ” Education of the African Child, the time is now” is apt and must be applied in practical terms if a holistic inclusive society will be attained.
Speaking at the occasion, the Country Director, Nutrition International, Dr. Osita Okonkwo highlighted the impacts of balanced diets in the formative stages of the African Child.
He described the biological processes as fundamental to the cognitive and physical development of children in general.
Okonkwo also specified that mothers should ensure that they take to exclusive breast feeding especially for the first six months of birth of a child as the method would help the baby develop virile immunity to many infections and diseases that may want to affect the child.
“As a nation, we must constantly engage our women folks to be mindful of feeding patterns of our children from ages zero to five” he asserted.
In the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on school feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji equally emphasized that “a well nourished child is a child who can flourish in life”
She seized the occasion to reaffirm the position of the Federal government to collaborate with relevant stakeholders’ that would provide the nutritional value to our teeming youths in various schools.
The event which was organized by African Scholars Care Initiative also witnessed quiz competitions among public primary schools in FCT.