Amah A. Amah in Abuja
It was in furtherance of his commitment and efforts to advance the course of People With Disabilities (PWDs) and open up more international partnerships and support for important, relevant exchange programmes for PWDs, that Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu Ayinla paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.
Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters met with His Excellency, Kim Pankyu, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria recently to discourse partnerships that will benefit the physically challenged persons in Nigeria.
The Ambassador, who warmly welcomed the Chairman, Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu and his Team to the Embassy expressed interest in advancing collaboration with the Committee on how to increases support, make good laws to enhance capacity and benefits to PWDs. He stated that Korea has been doing a lot to improve the lives of disabled persons and was ready to offer more benefits to them.
HE, the Ambassador also asked for suggestions on other ways that the Republic of Korea will further offer support to the physically challenged persons in Nigeria.
In his response, the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu affirmed that he and his Technical Team were at the Embassy for familiarization, also to acquaint he Embassy with the work of the House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters and brief the Ambassador on Extant Laws made by the House to support PWDs in Nigeria.
He disclosed that it was after 30 years of nationhood that Nigeria got the Disability Act, for which, generally, compliance and enforcement started recently. He further disclosed that the Law centred mostly on three major areas, as follows: Disabilities Inclusivity in Programs and Project; Accessibility to PWDs, especially of public places and Employment, which has a 3% baseline for all organisations.
Continuing, Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu emphasized that the Committee focuses more on Civic Engagement activities, especially by working with various Civil Society Organisations (CSO) that run programmes and projects to support PWDs and their inclusion.
The Chairman went further to note that the Committee’s research shows that the Republic of Korea has been very supportive to PWDs in many ways, for which the House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters had approved a Recognition Plaque for the Country, which the Ambassador would receive on behalf of the Country and People of Korea.
Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu also expressed interest in the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD). He observed that KEAD is one of the areas through which the Republic of Korea has dedicated attention to empowerment and capacity development of PWDs. He noted that Korea is showing the world pragmatic ways to go about Disability Inclusion, especially in the area of capacity building and employment.
He indicated his willingness to learn from the experience of the Republic of Korea even as he disclosed that his Committee represents about 35 million PWDs in Nigeria and it is the only Committee dedicated to PWD matters in Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly.
While thanking the Government and people of Korea for all the support and programmes already dedicated for PWDs inclusion and capacity building, Hon. Dr. Bashiru Dawodu averred that “we want more support in education by way of scholarships, and also in technology, healthcare, employment, international cooperation, etcetera.”
He also observed the need for Korean companies to invest in Nigeria in the areas of manufacturing of PWDs aids and assisted devices, which are active and functional industries in Korea.
Affirming that Nigeria has the raw materials and population, the Chairman stated that it will be beneficial to Korean companies to leverage these opportunities in Nigeria, as Government will be willing to ensure enablers for seamless operations.
Towards commemorating Annual Disability Day, the Chairman invited HE the Ambassador to the 3rd December, 2024 event and also, officially presented a Plaque of recognition to him for the support of his country to PWDs.
His Excellency the Ambassador responded by saying that Korea is sensitive to disability inclusion in many areas including tax, medical care and capacity building. He assured that he would connect the Committee with KEAD; and will also try his best to support PWDs in many other ways to encourage the good work that the House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters is doing.
In his contribution, a Technical Team Member, Dr. Chike Okogwu reiterated the need for interest to be advanced in industries and manufacturing exchange. “We need the industries here since the raw materials are here,” he stated and also stressed that KEAD and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Korean KOICA) are already doing a lot in many parts of the world, especially West Africa, appealing that they should do more in Nigeria.
In his contributions, the Economic Secretary of the Korean Embassy, Mr. Kwon Yonggyu disclosed that KEAD supports people with disability, provides training for individuals and companies employing PWDs. He urged that Nigeria should create a dedicated body for implementation of programmes, projects and laws relating to PWDs.
Responding, Hon. Bashiru Dawodu informed the Ambassador that Nigeria has the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) as an Agency instituted by law under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, which the Committee collaborates with.
Concluding, the Chairman also expressed interest and willingness to relate with the Korean parliament to learn the legislative experiences and journeys of the Asian Country as it has to do with PWDs Inclusion and Support.
He expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for hosting him and his Team and hoped that the engagement would result in more mutually beneficial relations between the Republic of Korea and Nigeria, especially in disabilities inclusion and support.
