Bridget Ikyado
Abuja-. A non-governmental organisation, Sir David Osunde Foundation (SDOF), on Monday, awarded more than 200 scholarships and donated 120 wheelchairs, among others, to people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items were presented to the PLWDs by the foundation in Abuja to mark its 30th anniversary.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, commended the gesture, while urging all Nigerians to partake in it.
“This is a worthy gesture, a Godly gesture that I will urge every Nigerian to partake in it.
“When you put smiles on the faces of the physically- challenged, those in need, those that have no one to cater for, I tell people that whatever you give out will surely come back to you, because God loves a cheerful giver.
“We can make this world a beautiful place by making this class of people happy; reaching out to them, making them feel at home and making them feel like being part of us all.
“If we can share love, we will have peace. What we lack in Nigeria is love, because if there is love, all things will go well, there will be peace, there will be no war, there will be understanding, progress and development, while the presence of God will be there.
“So all I’m asking for is: let’s love one another; let’s be our brother’s keeper; let’s put smile on the faces of those ones who have found themselves in this hopeless situation,” she said.
A former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who commended the initiative, urged Christians with God-given talents to enter into the political arena.
He said even though political arena was being hijacked by professional politicians, who were always manipulating the process, the cleric urged Nigerians to try again, even if they failed the first time.
On his part, Founder/President of the foundation, Sir David Osunde, said that within a period of 30 years, millions of people in the country had realised that persons with disabilities were also created in the image of God.
Represented by Dr Anthony Osunde, he urged government to provide for the marginalised, especially persons with disabilities.
He added that the gesture could be done with a view to giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Our plea here is that those in the private sector should join hands with the tree tiers of government to carve out programmes that will be beneficial to persons with disabilities,” he said. (NAN/vitalnews)
