18th May, 2017
The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Lehmann, on Thursday restated his government’s commitment to providing the needed support and inclusion for physically challenged persons across Nigeria.
Lehmann told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his high commission would continue to support more persons with disabilities in the country with grants from its development programmes.
According to him, the provision of support to persons with disabilities will continue to be his government’s major foreign policy thrust.
“Providing the needed support for persons with disabilities in Nigeria, is a major pillar of our foreign policy. And we would continue to support them in the years ahead.
“We are supporting them, because, we believe that there cannot be a successful economy, unless all members of the communities are included in development programmes.
“We want all members of the society to benefit from all that is meant for the society, irrespective of their abilities and disabilities.
“We would, therefore, continue to provide persons with disabilities in Nigeria, with the available grants for our development programmes,’’ he said.
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The high commissioner said that his government had always wanted asociety, where persons with disabilities, would be able to realise their potential and the right to full participation in elections.
Lehmann added that his commission was “particularly interested in projects that are disabilities focused’’ in Nigeria and other countries of the world.
“For us, it is about promoting not just fairness, justice and promoting an inclusion of all members of the society, irrespective of their abilities and disabilities.
“We also try to create awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities, so that governments, communities and other organisations, recognise the importance of including persons with disabilities in all acts of life,’’ he added.