Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ifeoma Anagbogu has said the federal government is committed to the economic wellbeing of People With Disabilities (PWDs) across the nation.

Anagbogu stated this in Abuja, Thursday while presenting aids and appliances empowerment tools to 15 PWDs as part  part of the ministry’s efforts at eradicating poverty as well as tackle the stigma they face in the society.

She said the empowerment was done by the ministry through the rehabilitation department in collaboration with Ishk Limb Centre, Lagos.

Amongst the tools distributed, Anagbogu said, included the provision of prosthetic limbs to over 173 physically challenged men and women of Niger state and the FCT.

She noted that the federal government supports PWDs with various forms of assistive devices and economic empowerment materials.

“The assistive devices include wheelchairs, tricycles, braille machines, guide canes, crutches, grinding machines, hair-dryers, barbing clippers, sewing machines and vulcanising machines so as to better their lives.

The permanent secretary expressed worry over the challenges  faced by PWDs like stigmatisation, limited funding for disability programmes, non accessibility to public building, lack of social security, discrimination in employment and use of public transportation. She added that women and young PWDs suffer gender-based violence and poor sexual and reproductive health services.

“It is important for us as partners to work together in ensuring promotion of the right of PWDs. This could be achieved through the understanding of ways in which disability stigma manifests so we can engage them positively.

“The ministry in collaboration with the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has provided a pilot training-of-trainers (TOT) to 25 parents of children with disabilities and caregivers in various institutions to advance their skills,” she added.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Hamidi Abdullahi appreciated the efforts of the federal government in alleviating the plight of PWDs while appealing that they should be considered for employment as well.