Participants at a three day capacity building workshop for local producers of Assistive Devices have been charged to maximize the opportunities available in the interventions to be provided at the end of the training.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq gave the charge in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Represented by the Director, Special Needs Department of the Ministry Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, Hajia Umar-Farouq said the importance of Assistive Devices in the lives of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, cannot be overemphasized as stated in the United Nations Convention on the need to support entities that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies.

According to her, the Department of Special Needs in the Ministry was equally collaborating with relevant partners to harness the potentials of PWDs as well as promoting activities that enhance their interaction and empowerment for the sustainable economic and political growth of the Nation.

The Minister disclosed that a grant of two hundred thousand naira is to be given to each participant for the provision of quality Assistive Devices and the development of thier entrepreneurial competencies.

She stressed that the Ministry had also finalized the National Roadmap on local production of Assistive technologies aimed at improving the current strategy for increased financial resources to achieve set goals.

Earlier in her remark, Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Buba in a message to the occasion stressed the need for continuous provision of enabling environment for people with physical challenges to enable them contribute thier quota to national development.

One of the participants, Aminu Ahamed from Kano State, in an interview, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for the workshop, which he stressed was timely and would enable local production of Assistive Devices for persons with special needs.

He assured the Ministry of judicious use of the grants for the PWDs to improve on local production of Assistive Devices.

The lead Consultant Lanre Oloruntobi promised to deliver on the terms of agreement with the Ministry for the workshop to achieve set targets for the PWDs.