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Why The Physically Challenged Are Planning Mega Walk Nationwide – PCCN Founder, Owolabi
As the world recently celebrated International Day of Persons With Disabilities, Monday, December 2018, Owolabi Tijani, founder of Physically Challenged Citizens of Nigeria, PCCN, a Non Governmental Organization, and son of Nigeria and Africa’s foremost mouth painter, Idowu Akinrolabu, has charged the government to increase the right of the physically challenged to participate in public life as it is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society.
Owolabi, while speaking in an interview on Monday, said giving a special day to celebrate the estimated one billion people living with one disability or the other around the world, was quite commendable, noting that “its a good sense of belonging which always boosts the moral and makes them feel they are being loved”.
He, however, added that more focus and inclusion in the affiars of the state for the skilled, talented and professional among them to show their dexterity would go along way in developing the nation.
Speaking on how PCCN came alive, he said after the death of his father, who was popular for his mouth painting, he saw the need to give life to many others who were greatly talented and could add value to the country, but had challenges such as blindness, people with spinal cord injury, people suffering from autism, the quadriplegics, among several others.
“We have been in existence for over five years now and as the founder of the organisation, I must confess that it has not been an easy task for me to take all of these people along with the necessary funding required to pull through. We must appreciate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Femi Gbajabiamila for their unflinching support towards the group in the last five years.
He added: “We have been able to make over a hundred people independent. We distributed over 700 wheelchairs and over 2,000 clutches in different states. More so, we have people who can now paint with their mouths too. There is a student at the Federal College of Education Oyo State (Special), as well as others who are in vocational training schools. We aid their mobility by giving them wheelchairs and several other materials. I am really passionate about them.”
Meanwhile, as the 2019 elections gather momentum, PCCN founder spoke on some of the political activities, noting that in 2015, the NGO threw her weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwumi Ambode in 2015 and would still do same in 2019 for the APC governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Sanwo-Olu.
He, however, added that adding plans have been concluded to hold a mega walk in the six Geo political zones of the country to mobilize over 1.5 million physically challenged for the relection of President Buhari and other APC governorship candidates in other states of the country between December 17, 2018 – February 4, 2019.
Stating some of the reasons for their bias he said, “we are all enjoying the giant strides of the present administration, that is why we are a bit biased with our support for a political candidate.The PDP administration has failed us woefully and we are really unhappy. We had approached them before now to help pass a bill for People Living With Disability, PLWD, which will give certain privileges to people with different forms and degrees of disabilities, but they turned it down flatly.”
A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-thirds of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals. The survey, titled Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), underscores the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.
The report shows that approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should. The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one.
Power Outages and Access to Energy
The survey also sheds light on the nation’s energy crisis, revealing that Nigerian households experience an average of 6.7 power blackouts per week. While 82.2% of urban households have access to electricity, the figure drops to 40.4% in rural areas.
Cooking remains predominantly dependent on traditional methods, with 65% of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2% relying on firewood. However, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is reportedly increasing.
Sanitation and Asset Ownership
In terms of sanitation, the report highlights that many households still lack basic toilet facilities, relying on bushes or streets for waste disposal. Access to clean drinking water is often through tube wells or boreholes, reflecting a lack of formal infrastructure in many areas.
On asset ownership, the survey indicates a decline since 2018/19. While two-thirds of households own mobile phones, only 21.3% have internet access. Housing ownership remains significant, with 70.4% of households owning their homes—80.1% in rural areas compared to 49.1% in urban centers.
The NBS report provides a stark reminder of the challenges many Nigerians face daily, from food insecurity and power outages to inadequate sanitation and declining asset ownership. It calls for urgent policy interventions to address these critical issues and improve the living standards of the population.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
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