Organisations, Companies Urged to Design Disability-Friendly Infrastructure to Accommodate PLDs

Ugo Aliogo

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Grooming Centre, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, has appealed to organisations and companies to ensure that their facilities are designed to be user friendly for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLD), stating that the organisation has started putting measures to ensure that their facilities across the country are usable by PLDs.

Nwabunka, who disclosed this recently in Lagos during a courtesy visit by Feet of Grace Foundation to express appreciation to the Grooming Centre for its generous donations to support their beneficiaries’ surgeries, revealed that the organisation would also ensure that their offices across the country make provisions for people living with disability both as staff members and clients.

The Grooming Centre’s CEO remarked that over the past seven years, they have been working with the Feet of Grace Foundation, noting that on yearly basis, they provide funding for Feet of Grace which helps them to do those kinds of activities they do.

According to him, “Today, they brought a few of the beneficiaries, just so that we can put a face to them. The beneficiaries are eight in number, and like I said, we have been doing this over the years. This is one of our Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) for the organisation.

“This project means so much for the organisation. Firstly, as the founder of Feet of Grace went through some life-changing trauma and had her two legs amputated, even before then, she had a number of health issues, but rather than sit back and feel sorry for herself, she is using it to do good things and reach out to those who are also in the same situation and basically sending a message that your disability doesn’t mean you are finished, but you can live a normal life with your disability.

“When she started this foundation, we felt it was a noble cause and that we could support her, so we have been partnering her over the years. For 2024, they have just sent us their work plan and we will incorporate it into our work plan.

“We intend to sustain this partnership, even as we were able to sustain it during the hard days of COVID-19. Beyond providing financial support to get the prosthetics for the limbs and arms, this year, we are considering providing them financial aid to help in starting up small scale businesses. However, we will agree to hold meetings to see how we can cooperate in that area. So that when they get limbs and arms, they can embark on livelihood initiatives.”

On her part, the Founder, Feet of Grace Foundation, Dr. Irene Olumese, highlighted the challenges faced by amputees, particularly women, and emphasised the foundation’s strategy to empower females with limbs. She stressed the need for more disability-friendly infrastructure and accessibility across the country.