The Sokoto State government is to introduce a special skills acquisition programme for People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) in the State.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu gave the indication during the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities held in Sokoto.
According to him, the special skills acquisition programme is part of measures aimed at making physically challenged persons gainfully employed and reduce street begging.
He assured that the AbdulRasheed Adisa Raji Special School, Sokoto would receive the desired attention, so as to continue to provide sound and quality education to physically challenged pupils in the State.
He promised that the government would sponsor physically challenged children to study in the state to any tertiary institution of their choice to enable them acquire higher certificates.
He said special provision has been made for physically challenged persons in the 2025 budget and appealed to them to continue to support the his administration in its quest to transform Sokoto state.
Already, the administration has reviewed upwards the monthly allowances given to physically challenged persons from N6,500 to N10,000 in an attempt to create jobs and reduce street begging.
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In addition, the State government has provided several palliatives to physically challenged persons and established special Ramadan feeding centers for them across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
There are 6,679 registered physically challenged persons benefiting from the monthly allowance, with plans to increase the number of beneficiaries to 10,000.
The State government has also redeemed its pledge of 500 hand-cyles to physically challenged persons, with 500 more being procured for distribution
Each of the 6,679 physically challenged persons also received a donation of N10,000 from the APC leader in the State, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko at the event.
Highlight of the celebration was a football match between two para-soccer teams in the State.
The winners of the match went home with a trophy and N1 million, while the losers also got a trophy and N500,000 from Gov. Ahmed Aliyu.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
