• Foundation donates wheelchairs, sewing machines, foodstuff to the indigent

Senator Bode Olajumoke, Revd Paul Tioluwani-Lesekese and Founder, Ibadan Central Hospital, Dr Abib Olamitoye have called for more support for people with disabilities, (PWDs) as well as  the other less privileged people, including widows, orphans as we moved into the Christmas festivities.

They all spoke at the 35th edition of the Care People’s Foundation annual carnival for the PWDs, widows, orphans and other less privileged people held at Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital last Sunday where 35 wheelchairs were donated to the PWDs.

Foodstuff, sewing machines, pepper grounding machines were also distributed to the less privileged at the event.

Senator Olajumoke, who is the grand patron of the Care People’s Foundation, said he is always in tears when he is  in the midst of the PWDs, saying that prompted him to sponsor a bill to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities in public buildings all over Nigeria when he was in the Senate.

He said: “In the year 2007, I won election into the Senate to represent Ondo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. For two years in the Senate, I worked assiduously on a bill to eliminate discriminatory habits against people with disabilities in public buildings all over Nigeria”.

Senator Olajumoke said the passage of that bill has impacted positively on the PWDs.  He said since the passage of the bill, a lot of people have become enlightened, saying most of the halls in Nigeria universities are now PWDs-friendly.

“As far as I am concerned, life has been easier for the PWDs. There are still some challenges. But as the society grows, the law grows,” he said.

He described the 35 years of Care People’s Foundation’s contribution to taking care of the needy as excellent. He called on other Nigerians to help people with disabilities.

Also speaking, the President of Care People’s Foundation, Revd Paul Tunde Tioluwani- Lesekese said he was elated that he and his wife, Mrs Favour Tioluwani-Lesekese, a lawyer, have consistently in the last 35 years organised Christmas Carnival for less privileged Nigerians through free distribution of wheelchairs and other items to the widows, orphans and other less privileged people to make them happy.

He said God has given him support, saying when God gives a vision, He will make provisions.

He said the Care People’s Foundation donated 30 wheelchairs, foodstuff, sewing machines, pepper grinding machines and other items to the less privileged as part of this year’s event.

He called on Nigerians, especially people in governance, to help the people with disabilities.

He said some leaders are not compassionate, urging the well to do in the society to give to the less privileged.

“If our senators, House of Representatives members can also do without politics, what we are doing by helping the poor and the physically challenged, the society will be better.

The cleric called on the government to make education free for people with disabilities, saying that should be done as a way of making them live decent lives.

Speaking at the event, the Vice President of the Foundation, Barrister Favour Tioluwani- Lesekese said at the Care People’s Foundation, they give the wheelchairs directly to those who need them, to avoid being resold by some PWDs institutions.

Also while addressing the PWDs and the other less privileged at the carnival, a medical doctor and founder of Ibadan Central Hospital, Dr Abib Olamitoye said he is always happy to help those who have disabilities, saying such people are not the cause of their own disabilities.

He called on all Nigerians especially the well to do to assist in making the PWDs have a decent living, saying “as you do so, God will continue to uplift you.”