Disability
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, May 9, 2018 (NAN) A sign language specialist, Mrs Treasure Uchegbu, has called on employers of labour to engage persons with disability to enable them to showcase their potential.
Uchegbu, popularly known as “Speaking Fingers’’, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that many physically challenged persons had great potential that could be tapped to grow an organisation.
According to her, ignorance made employers of labour unwilling to employ such persons.
“One of the reasons employers do not employ persons with disability is ignorance of the hidden talents of this group of people.
“Some employers are not aware that there is a legal framework that says that they should have persons with disability on their payrolls.
“In Lagos State, there is a policy that says one per cent of your employees has to be a person with the disability,’’ Uchegbu said.
She said that people with disability were special people and could contribute meaningfully to national development.
“They are innovative and socially responsible because of their deeply creative nature.
“I work with the deaf; they are introspective because they are quite from the inside.
“They can draw from that inner strength and can harness their potential for personal and organisational development,’’ the sign language specialist told NAN.
She advised employers not to see engagement of disabled persons as a burden.
Uchegbu also called on states and local governments to create more employment opportunities for people with disability. (NAN)
LED/AIB/IGO
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Ijeoma Popoola