September 26th, 2003: CDC lobbies Nigerian Government

The following story has been quoted from the news publication 'This Day Online':

Group Makes Case for Disabled

A non-governmental organisation, the Children's Develop-ment Centre (CDC) has concluded plans to prevail on government to ensure that 2 per cent of the workforce in every company was left for the disabled.

This is with a view to giving the less fortunate ones a sense of belonging.

Addressing newsmen at the ground breaking ceremony of the newly proposed Lagos Living and Learning Centre (LLLC), an umbrella organisation of CDC, in Idi-Orogbo village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Director, CDC, Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Akindayomi, said the centre was prepared to ensure that the children were trained to be "skilled enough to actually hold down a job" in any sector of the society.

"And we want to make sure that the children are being skilled to actually hold down a job. So we are going to ask government that at least 2 per cent of the working force in any company should be able to employ somebody with a disability, whatever that disability is", she said. She said the centre was also looking at community programme that would enable it integrate the children into the society adding that "once we have integrated them into the society, what more can we do".

Akindayomi said she has learnt so much in working with the disabled advising parents with children not to hide them from the public but rather support and encourage them in discovering their potentials.

This story can be found here.