Two Nigerian women leaders have earned praises for their care for Nigerians living with disabilities.

Hon. Hajiya Zainab Maina, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Developments and Hon. Halima Mohammed Hayatu, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adamawa State, were commended by FESTAC-USA and its United States based collaborative organisations, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities & Institute for Rehabilitation, Inc., and Kaysom Holdings, Inc.

Hajia Maina and Hajia Hayatu had recently led Nigerians with disabilities to the 22^nd World Congress of the Rehabilitation International (RI) held at Incheon, South Korea, from October 29 - November 2. RI is a global network of more than 1000 organisations of persons with disabilities, service providers, agencies, professionals and experts in a broad range of disability-related issues.

A statement sent to News Express by Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Diaspora, disclosed that Hajia Maina and Hajia Hayatu stopped over in Houston-Texas USA, where they met with leaders of Nigerian Diaspora groups devoted to caring for Nigerians with disabilities.

The statement said that Hajia Maina at the meeting “vowed to collaboratively work with Nigerians with Disabilities, for a steady, progressive, successful and total removal of barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society that would benefit all Nigerians and 22 million long-neglected or ignored Nigerians with Disabilities.”

It also quoted the minister of promising “to ensure that Nigeria continues to honour its obligations under the human rights treaty of the 21^st century, called the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities, signed and ratified by Nigeria, on March 30, 2007and September 24, 2010, by properly advising President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration, on the urgent need for Nigeria to continue with its successful implementations by signing into law, the pending ‘Nigerians with Disability Bill’.”

The statement said that “Uche H. Okafor, Diaspora Medical Director, on behalf of Nigerians in the Diaspora, extended appreciation to Hajia Maina, Mr. George Ossi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and RI for their excellent jobs, supporting Nigerians in the Diaspora’s for their relentless efforts, towards projecting the good image of Nigeria internationally.”

•Photo: Hajia Maina, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development.