By Eche, Amos

With about 15% of the world’s population living with some
form of disability, of whom 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning, the physically challenged are about the most overlooked set of people in the society today owing to no fault of theirs.

But respite seems to be on the way for these special set of people in Nasarawa State, especially those participating in sporting activities at the Lafia City Stadium, as the National Museum, Lafia Office, is set to partner with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to reduce their plight and make them feel loved.

Curator of the National Museum, Lafia Office, Dakam Joseph Dakup, gave the assurance when he and his team visited the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Othman Bala Adam, at his office in Lafia, on Monday.

Dakam stated that their visit was to seek audience with the Commissioner and Ministry in order to stage a competition to appreciate the physically challenged athletes in the State in their little ways.

“We are here to identify with the Commissioner and the Ministry for your laudable objectives and achievements, and also to seek ways to partner, in more ways than one, to identify with the physically challenged athletes in our dear state”, he began.

He explained that the National Museum, aside showcasing the rich cultural heritage of a people, also identifies with the less privileged in the society, stressing that such set of people are unique in their own way, hence the need to show them love and put smiles on their faces through hosting them to sporting championships.

In his remark, the Commissioner, Othman Bala Adam, thanked the organization for the visit, describing it as both apt and timely.

“Thank you for the visit as it is apt and timely, and in tandem with what we intend doing as a Ministry for youth and sports development.”

Othman Bala enumerated some of the activities lined up by the Ministry for the growth and development of youth and sports in the State.

“For the sake of the budget of the State, in terms of sporting activities, each sporting association was directed to submit its local championship programme, which they all have obliged.

“We are coming up with a template that will capture the essence of life via sports and youth capacity-building. Also, in order to realise our dreams and aspirations as a Ministry, we have dotted the ‘I’s and crossed the ‘T’s of a law that providence made me to sponsor while I was a State legislator in 2013, and I am glad to inform you that the State Executive Council has graciously approved that hence, one per cent of any contract sum in the State will be channelled into sports development, and this will, to a large extent, curb the financial hardship, we hitherto, have been facing.”

He assured the Organization of working hand-in-hand to make the programme for the physically challenged and others a reality.

“We are open to any positive and genuine collaboration in this direction in youth and sports development in fulfilment of the mandate given to us by His Excellency, Governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule.

“We will take it up from where you stopped, we will keep on talking, and synergising to ensure that those people living with disabilities are never undermined but seen as partners in progress.

“I want to assure you that the Ministry will partner with you, positively, on this aspect”, the Commissioner optimistically guaranteed.