Married Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Abia State were on Friday hosted to a Valentine’s Day party tagged: “Couples with Disability Hangout” in Umuahia, the state capital.
The event was organised by some NGOs, the Global Compassion Coalition, Compassion Connectors Nigeria and the state chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities.
The chairman of the chapter, Wisdom Okechukwu Kalu said the idea was to prove that PWDs, like any other segment of the society, could create a forum to enjoy themselves during such an occasion.
“During this occasion, able people come together to enjoy themselves without us. Nobody asks of us, nobody takes us out. So, that was why we came up with the idea that if others cannot do it for us, we can do it for ourselves,” he added
A disability advocate and the state women leader of the chapter, Princes Ngozi Nwaguru urged PWDs to rise above their disabilities by identifying their capacities and areas of strength.
“For me, I want to live beyond my disability to contribute my quota to the growth and development of my society in the belief that there is ability in disability,” she said.
In a message, a visually impaired man, Urasi Eze, a writer and public affairs analyst, who thrilled the audience in a dance with his wife, commended the organisers for reaching out to them.
Earlier, the coordinator of Compassion Connectors Nigeria and the country’s chapter of the coalition, Uwalaka Uchechukwu, said the event was meant to give the PWDs a sense of belonging.
Uwalaka noted that the coalition was working toward building a society where people and the planet are cared for and valued which he said was the reason for their coming up with the event.
“This is crucial especially on a day like today when couples, lovers and loved ones are celebrating across the world and it seems no one is remembering PWDs . So, we thought it wise to use this activity to create joy for them.”
Explaining that the event was the second edition, he added that they intend “moving the next to any other state to give this special couples love, sense of belonging and for them to interact among themselves.”
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