Julius OkorieThe National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, have called for entries to the second scholarship scheme for undergraduates persons with disabilities in Nigeria Public Institutions.
In a release signed by the Executive Secretary, National Commission for persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, the body gave November 30, 2024 as deadline for entries.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt further listed Eligible Criteria to include:
*Must be an indigent person with disabilities
*Bonafide Student of any Public Tertiary Institution in Nigeria
*Maintain a status of 2.5 CGPA
*Obtain a letter of Identification from local Government
*Letter of Identification from Head of Department and Submit copy of admission letter.
Would be applicants were further told that applicants will be physically verified.
While encouraging applicants to send their details to Scholarship@ncpwd.gov.ng, the body further told applicants that the tuition will not be paid to them but directly to the school.
While commending the program, a lecturer, author and publisher Augustine Chukwuma Onyia, frowned at the idea of exposing the physically challenged to the rigors of going to local government areas for letters of identification especially with the risks on the highway.
READ ALSO :Disability Act: The Struggles Of Visually Impaired Nigerians 5 Years On
Asking the Schools to compile their names which will then be properly vetted by nearest police authority he reasoned would have been better and easier for them. He equally carpeted the idea of insisting that eligible applicants should make 2.5 CGPA, adding that the idea behind the project is to give them the opportunity to acquire education not limiting it to those who scored 2.5 CGPA.
“A good one, but the appears to have holes. Why not request the various eligible academic institutions to forward a list of physically challenged persons properly counter vetted by the nearest police authority.
Who will defray the cost of travelling to get identification letter from the Local Government? What of the risks on the highway?
By the way why insist a candidate should make 2.5 CGPA. You don’t consider whether a physically challenged person is brilliant or not, given the opportunity the government has graciously provided for them. Close your eyes for 2 minutes to imagine what they are passing through. I taught many of them in the university, their situation had never been enviable” he submitted.
Onyia who has written several books including “Faith That Touches God” called for continuous dialogue so that ” people creating and/or implementing government policies will do better”
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was established with the mandate to coordinate and implement activities that guarantee full inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into the society in areas of education social economic and civil rights and related matters as entrenched in Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
