By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has disclosed that his administration intends to institutionalize the Association of Persons With Disabilities in the state after domestication of the Act in the state.
Alia who made the disclosure at a stakeholders consultative forum organized by Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, to strengthen equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities as well as to fight for the domestication of disability Act, held at Metropolitan Hotel Makurdi, said this could be done through institutionalizing JONAPWD for partners to have easy interface with the organization.
The governor explained that anyone leading JONAPWD in the state must have the capacity to interface with development partners at that level as well as to be accountable concerning resources that would be provided both by government and partners and to ensure that like the name of the group implies, JONAPWD must work towards inclusion of all disability groups in the state.
He said he has directed the Bureau for International Development and Cooperation, to build capacity of leaders who could manage resources that comes to the Association, adding that government through the Bureau would ensure that activities of JONAPWD are conducted in line with international best standards.
Governor Alia also told the people that JONAPWD should be able to have capacity to write proposals capable of presenting their request to partners for them to know that there is ability in disability to avoid being underated.
On his part, Director General, Bureau of International Development and Cooperation, represented by Professor John Akuse, said the Bureau charged with the responsibility to guarantee conducive environment for partners to operate in the state would assure JONAPWD of the needed support to succeed.
In a remark, executive director, Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, Grace Jerry, represented by Director programmes IFA, Stephen Idoko, explained that stakeholders, change makers and advocates had gathered in Makurdi, to consolidate alliance in order to amplify their voices towards domestication of the disability Act in Benue, the only state in the North Central Nigeria yet to domesticate the law.