In commemoration of the Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, celebrated today, Monday, October 6, the Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the Ifeoluwa Cerebral Palsy Initiative, has organised a skills acquisition training for persons living with cerebral palsy, charging the parents to care for children with the condition to improve their quality of life.
Giving her remarks during the training which took place over the weekend at the Ministry of Social Development’s premises in Ilorin, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, advised parents of children with cerebral palsy to invest in their education in order to secure a noble and promising future for them.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Mrs. Taiwo Grace Toyin, urged parents not to underrate children with the disability but to focus on their abilities, potentials as well as positive stories from people who have faced similar challenges so as to promote inclusiveness and build their confidence.
Hajia Imam disclosed that the training was intended to address the needs of the people with cerebral palsy, empower them to navigate through life challenges in order to overcome the societal hurdles and break barriers towards living independent lives.
“Our gathering here today aims not to only raise awareness but also to foster understanding and acceptance. We are here to educate, empower and inspire action towards a more inclusive society for all individuals, especially those living with health challenges like cerebral palsy,” she stated.
The Commissioner called on members of the society not to discriminate against persons with cerebral palsy but to offer them meaningful support to help them manage task and overcome challenges they may encounter.
The training empowered participants with skills such as resin arts, textile tie-dyeing technique and Point of Sale (POS) operation.
