By Leonard Okachie
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has trained persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Abia on waste recycling and environmental conservation techniques, in line with it’s economic empowerment programme.
The two-day training workshop, organised in collaboration with the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons and supported by the Disability Rights Fund(DRF), took place in Aba.
The capacity building programme had as its theme “Climate-resilient skills in climate-smart agriculture, waste recycling and environmental conservation techniques.”
The Facilitator, Prof. Kelechi Igwe of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, urged the PWDs to turn their disabilities into profitable ventures by contributing their quota to society.
Igwe, a Professor of Agricultural Economics, exposed the PWDs to the processes of waste recycling and environmental conservation techniques to enhance their economic wellbeing.
He spoke on the topics: “Introduction to waste recycling concepts and benefits,” and “Practical session on waste recycling”.
The lecturer, who regretted the effects of climate change on the human populace, charged the PWDs to engage themselves, particularly in organic waste recycling which, he said, they could do even in the comfort of their homes.
The Acting Director, CCD, Mr Godwin Unumeri, said that it was important to empower PWDs, for them to become economically self-reliant and leave the streets as beggars.
“What we have discussed today are things that you don’t even need to spend too much on, but under which good income is hiding.
“Our target as a centre is to move the PWDs, who are the poorest of the poor, out of poverty, ” Unumeri said.
The Programme Manager, DRF, Mr Theophilus Odaudu, said that the PWDs were vulnerable in many fronts and, therefore, important to empower them.
He commended CCD for its
commitment and continuous advocacy, saying that his organisation was poised to support any group that would promote the welfare of PWDs.
Odaudu alao commended the PWDs for their participation, urging them not to keep the knowledge to themselves, but escalate it to other members of the community.
In a goodwill message, the Director, Climate Change, state Ministry of Environment, Mr Chris Ike, said that the ministry was intentional in designing climate change initiatives to address the concerns of PWDs.
He said that PWDs were represented in formulating the Abia State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.
Ike, who commended CCD for organising the train-the-trainers workshop, said the ministry would continue to collaborate with the centre in promoting the welfare of PWDs in the state.
“The ministry is taking issues of waste very seriously and, in the course of the year, we will come up with programmes that will further demonstrate that,” he said.
In separate remarks, the participants expressed profound gratitude to the organisers, saying that the workshop was impactful.
Members of civil society organisations, representatives of different ministries, agencies and departments of government attended the workshop. (NAN)
