PWDs Have Abilities, Patronise Us - Adebayo Calls Out To Osun Govt And Residents

...Commends Osun CARES, Community and Social Development Agency CSDA initiative for empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

By Abisola Ariwodola,

Adebayo Muritala, an Adire making expert, who is a visually impaired man has described  Persons with Disability as having abilities, due to their various artisan skills, and this has made him to call on Osun government and residents of the state for business patronage

Adebayo made this known in an interview with journalists at his workshop in Ability village, Testing ground area, Osogbo, where he applauding Osun CARES, Community and Social Development Agency empowerment initiative. 

According to him, the empowerment facility was facilitated into existence by Osun Community and Social Development Agency CSDA for Persons with Disabilities in various skills and business, such as Adire making, hairdressing, sandals and slippers production among others.

He added that CSDA through Osun CARES project, empowered the persons with disabilities, who are prioritised beneficiary of Governor Ademola Adeleke's intervention programmes.

Speaking of behalf of the artisans persons with disabilities, he noted that the Adire fabrics produced in Osogbo, a town renowned for tie-and-dye making, can compete with any foreign fabric, while adding that the sandals and palm slippers production are of standard.

He asserted that for the business to be sustainable, it needs patronage, hence calling on the government of Osun state, it's officials, philanthropists and residents to support the persons with disability by buying their Adire, hairdressing and sandals items form then.

Citing example of the directive of the state government, mandating civil servants to wear Adire clothing every Wednesday of the week, Adebayo added that former speaker used such templates to make the house of Assembly members to purchase goods from them.

He further added that the present administration can also imbibe such example, adding that this will go a long way in alleviating poverty on the persons with disability who are skillfully empowered despite their status.

"As citizens of Nigeria and residents of the state, we have right to live, and with everyone's support, live can be made easy for us and we appreciate you."

"We specially thank Governor Ademola Adeleke for being kind to us, and we request for more intervention programmes for the disability clusters."

We also commend the management of Osun Community and Social Development Agency, CSDA led by Mrs Funmi Abokede, for the project implementation across the state, - Adebayo stated.

In her remark, the General Manager of Osun CSDA, Funmi Abokede, reiterated the agency’s commitment to promoting the Adire produced by the Persons with Disability cluster led by Muritala Adebayo at the Ability center.

She asserted to the public that the PWDs in the state have potentials, which has economically empowered them, and she called for support of the Osun CARES initiative, for the good people of the state to purchase the Adire fabrics, which have been widely praised for their good quality.

"Commenting on Governor Adeleke's intervention programmes for the disability clusters, she reiterated the determination of the government to provide enabling environment for residents of osun, irrespective of class or status."

Abokede, who also commended the PWDs for believing in themselves, and accepting the empowerment, assured that the agency would continue to support the Adire and  shoe making production and other project implementation.

She added that the categories of persons with disability who have been empowered to produce Adire, and shoe making include the visually impaired, the spinal cord, and users of crutches, who can may be static in movement, but can use their hands to work.