The founder of the foremost online media in Ogun State,Penpushing Media, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji has said that the Government’s negligence towards the People With Special Needs affects them Negatively.
Kayode-Adedeji stated this on Tuesday at the 5th Anniversary Lecture of the Organization with the theme “Burden of inclusivity and Nigeria’s Democracy” held at Marquee Hall, OOPL, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta the Ogun state capital.
He disclosed that there is ability in dissability and enjoined the government and critical stakeholders in the country to devoid neglecting them and involve them in governance.
He noted that, the theme of the event was deliberately chosen, as part of the media organization’s effort to make the voice of people with special needs heard, which is part of the social responsibility that the media outlet has taken upon since it’s establishment.
He added that, his organisation doesn’t want to stop there and would appreciate of support from the government and other critical stakeholders for the people with special needs.
He said “In Penpushing media, one area of our corporate social responsibility is using the platform to show concern for the plight of the less privileged and people with special needs. One was the discovery of Sarah Ajayi, a 20 years old blind girl who lost her two eyes when she was 18 years to a cataract while in SS2 class.
“Our online publication brought hope to the hopeless lady through the intervention of one of our leading leaders who took over the educational expenses by enrolling the girl in the school of the blind in Lagos. I’m happy to inform you that Sarah is now a graduate with specialize in artwork. We are using this medium to solicit empowerment for her to start a business on her artwork”.
“Another special person discovered was Abiodun Omoyaiye, a physically challenged person and graduate of Mass Communications in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, who was jobless after the NYSC scheme. With the Penpushing media effort in bringing his plight to the public on our medium, Abiodun has today gained full employment with Federal Medical Center(FMC) Abeokuta working in the Public Relation Department of the institution”.
“We do not want to stop here, we have also introduced another item to our deliverables in terms of social responsibility. It is about regular support for the less privileged which is not limited to financial support. We want to support them through a donation to numbers of orphanage,” he added.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun who was represented by his Media Strategist, Kayode Akinmade commended Penpushing Media for its professionalism in News reportage, described inclusivity as when every government of Democratic system treats everybody equally and ensuring greatest happiness towards numbers of people.
The guest speaker at the event, Former Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro commended the Nigeria President, Bola Tinubu on the method he used to appoint the service Chiefs and submitted that there is a need for inclusion in government without discriminating any identities in the country, community and even local government.
He added that if there is inclusivity, Nigeria will be better, urging that it is important to act now so we can all take the brighter future of the Nigeria.
“The appointment of service Chiefs by any reflection they represent the segments of Nigeria and everybody feel the part of the journey, project called Nigeria. It is fundamental especially at the time of Insecurity”.
“The inclusivity we are saying in all segments, whether identity segment, ethnic group, regional, even local government against local government within a state and geo-political Zone of a country. When there is inclusivity, even in your family our country will be a better for it. We cannot postpone our development. We just have to act now to prepare the future”.
Also one of the discussant, David Anyaele, who is the Executive Director, Center For Citizen With Disability (CCD) frowned upon at which the governments feel less concerned about people with disability, arguing that nearly everybody have one or more disabilities in them.
He maintained that it is pertinent for the Federal government and state governments to give value to people with disability by implementing bills on dissability and appointing of people with disability in government.
“We want to assure equal opportunity if we have people with disability as commissioner in the state is not bad”.
Also at the event is the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; wife of former President, Chief Mrs. Bola Obasanjo; founder women FM Radio, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya; General Manager Fresh FM Abeokuta, Samson Akindele; Members of Nigeria Union of Journalists; Members of Nigerian Guild of Editors; Members of Guild of Online Corporate Publishers; Media Members of Editorial Board of Penpushing Media and others.