Rivers Govt assures physically challenged youths of support – Commissioner

By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon (Dr.) Chisom Kenneth Gbali has assured physically challenged youths in the state of the Government continued support.

Receiving the Association of Physically Challenged Youths, Rivers State Chapter in his office, the Commissioner congratulated the President of the Association, Mr. Brown Benjamin for their ability to come together as a body to discuss on how to develop themselves despite their impediment, adding that the Ministry of Youths Development will make their request a priority.

According to him, Rivers State Ministry of Youths Development will continue to give the physically challenged Youths in the state an enabling endowment and financial support to enable them achieve their vision. He called on the leadership of the Association to apply for registration in the Ministry of Youths Development in order to carry them along in the program and activities of the Ministry.

The Commissioner further charged the President of the Association to organize his members to enable the Ministry interface and educate them on the blueprint of the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara in the State.

Responding, the President, of the Group, Mr. Brown Benjamin thanked the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for appointing Dr. Chisom. Kenneth Gbali as the commissioner for Youths Development and also commended the Commissioner for the audience granted them despite his busy schedule.

Mr. Benjamin who disclosed that the main aim of their visit is to intimate the Commissioner of the challenges faced by the youths with disability in the State, which he said include lack of wheelchairs for those crawling on bare floor, guide cane for total visual impaired youths, glasses for low vision and partially sighted, hand crutches for those on crutches and payment of tuition fees for their members currently on postgraduate programs, stressing that if these mobility aids are provided for them, it will help them in their studies.

He explained that the youths with disability were neglected during the 2023 National Youths Day in the State and appealed to the Commissioner for inclusion in 2024 edition.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of key holders and bags made by the physically challenged Youths to the Commissioner.