By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has urged people with disability in the state to utilise the N500million budgeted for the Micro Credit Scheme Programme of the state government in order to show case their talents.

The Governor, who spoke through the Special Adviser on Commerce and Industry, Osato Ize-Iyamu, said it was the desire of the state government to ensure that every disable in the state was empowered, stressing the need for the physically challenged to form an association, so that they would benefit from the micro credit scheme.

The Governor stated this in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, at a ceremony organised by MTN foundation on its Disability Support Project, in which over 400 persons, including schools benefited from the free distribution of disability aids.

He said his administration, as a step in this direction, appointed a Senior Special Assistant on the Physically Challenged and also employed at least 16 qualified persons with disabilities to work in the office of the First Lady besides many others, who have been engaged by his administration.

In her remarks, Director, MTN Foundation, Dr Wingle Essumai said the programme, which is on its second phase would be done in 12 states. She said 8,000 applications were received when the organization published advertorials requesting for expressions while 5,000 were selected after verification visits.

“In addition to providing these aids and appliances, the foundation has also invested in training the personnel to maintain them so that they can continue to be of use to the beneficiaries for a long time to come”.

According to her the MTN would soon embark on another project on skill acquisition project for persons with disabilities to enable them acquire skills that would make them fend for themselves.