Association
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The National Association for the Blind, Zaria Local Government Chapter, Kaduna State, on Friday appealed to the state government to establish more schools for the blind across the state, to reduce begging.
The branch chairman, Malam Dalhatu Jibril, made the appeal during the 10th edition of distribution of essential materials to the members in Zaria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the materials include; Braille materials, typewriters, writing frame, Starlus, Braille papers, blind textbooks, talking watches and foodstuff to widows.
The materials are part of donations gathered from philanthropists in the state.
Jibril observed that the only secondary school for female blind students was that of Zangon Kataf Local Government, adding that it was too far for members in Kaduna Central and Kaduna North Senatorial Districts.
“The next alternative is for a female student to leave the state which is not good for all of us.
“Therefore, we want the state government to come to our aid by building more schools, especially in Kaduna and Zaria.
“Another predicament is the issue of WAEC, NECO and JAMB. We pay our fees just like any other normal person; actually, we use to pay through our noses.
“We want to use this medium to appeal to Kaduna State Government to assist us by paying WAEC fees for our members, to enable them get higher education.
“Most of blind persons don’t have the ability to pay their WAEC fees not to talk of JAMB to be able to further their studies, hence the plea,’’ he said.
He lamented that Nigerian politicians offered assistance to able bodied persons but often fail to extend such helping hand to the blind.
“Every now and then, we hear from the radio that Senators, members House of Representatives, members State Assemblies among other politicians, distribute items to the electorate but none of them remember of the blind.
“Despite the fact that we are blind, still, we cast our votes since we are eligible; therefore, we are entitled to such dividends of democracy too.
“Some politicians disburse scholarship to the public but up till now, no blind person has benefited.
“Some of them train people on various skills while some distribute sewing machines, water pumps, knitting machines, grinding machines, yet none of us benefited.’’
Jibril said even if a blind man would not be able to sew, farm, among other trades, his son or daughter would comfortably do so.
The branch chairman stressed the need for politicians to consider members of the association for dividends of democracy.
He said the essence of the programme was to assist the young members, especially those pursuing educational career, to give them a sense of belonging and to enable them further their studies.
“This assistance will enable the young ones to concentrate and face their studies, instead of thinking of how to get those materials.
“We have also been using this medium to assist the widows and the aged among us with foodstuff to cushion the effect of economic scourge,’’ Jibril said.
In his speech, the Chairman, Zaria Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Idris-Ibrahim, promised to restore the monthly allowances to the blind in the area.
The chairman, who was represented by his Personal Assistant and Confidential Secretary, Malam Ibrahim Zakaria-Yau, assured that the council was mindful of the predicaments of the blind and willing to address them.
“We actually have you people in mind and we are devising some means to render assistance to your association.
“I want to assure you that we are going to restore the payment of monthly bursary allowances for your members who are studying.
“Apart from that, there are other allowances for the crippled and deaf and dumb. We will soon constitute a committee that will screen the eligible beneficiaries,’’ he said.
Hajiya Rahinatu Muhammad-Kazaure, Head of Special Education Department, Federal College of Education (FCE) Zaria, appealed to members of the association to continue seeking for educational pursuit to enable them become self reliant.
Muhammad-Kazaure called on well meaning Nigerians to always extend helping hands to the blind, especially in the area of pursuing their education, in view of their special predicament. (NAN)
KLM/FF/DUA
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Dada Ahmed