RSG Assures Physically Challenged Of Opportunities

The Rivers State Government says it is doing everything within its powers to provide opportunities for the physically challenged in the state to enable them compete with the rest in society.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated this yesterday while addressing some physically challenged persons, led by the state president of the National Association of Persons Suffering from Disabilities, Mr Fredrick Amachree that were on a peaceful demonstration to the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Governor Amaechi, who was not happy with the disabled persons for embarking on demonstration at a time government was already addressing their problems, noted that he had personally visited the Special School for the Handicapped at Creek Road, Port Harcourt and directed that the school be rebuilt to improve their living condition.

According to him, government has also provided them with overseas scholarship through the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), taxi cabs to some physically challenged persons to improve their economic fortune, as well as employed some of them as teachers in the state.

The State Chief Executive said rather than creating a separate Ministry and building separate primary and secondary schools for the physically challenged as requested by them, government would provide ramps for them in all model schools built in the state.

Governor Amaechi reminded them that disability does not make them any less human and advised the graduates among them to take courses in education so that they can be employed to teach in the state.

The State President of the National Association of Persons Suffering from Disabilities, Mr Fredrick Amachree had told the governor that they protested over their neglect and requested that a separate ministry be created for the disabled persons as well as their appointments into public offices.

Mr Amachree also appealed to the state government to see the need to make disabled persons superintend over their own affairs and provide a befitting accommodation for them to live and school.