FG hails World Bank’s support to PWDs

The Federal Government has commended the World Bank for providing technical and financial support to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Dr James Lalu, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, during a virtual meeting with officials of World Bank.

The meeting was convened to strengthen implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 10 and 17 for disability inclusion in Nigeria.

Lalu draw the attention of stakeholders to the need to redesign policies and programmes of the commission to conform with the global standard.

”We need policies redesign in the area of social protection programmes because World Bank has the capacity to stimulate disability inclusion and development programme” he said.

The Executive Secretary expressed commitment to improve the welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

Also speaking, Cindy Ikeaka, a World Bank Social Development Specialist said, the bank will continue to provide technical support to the commission to ensure effective delivery of the needs of PWDs.

Ikeaka also said that the bank was working with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to ensure disability data collection.

”This will ensure proper data management of persons with disabilities ” she said.

On her part, Esther Bature, the Country Coordinator of Sightsavers in Nigeria said, her organisation will continue to strengthen national systems to deliver sustainable services.

”We supported NCPWD to develop a five-year national strategic plan and this plan requires different levels of intervention.

”We are happy to see that the World Bank has supported the commission to a kind of review to include monitoring and evaluation in the plan as well as developed several developments documents,” she said.Batur

Nature also thanked the World Bank for its assistance in building the capacity of the commission’s members of staff.