The leadership of the Muslim Association of Visually Impaired of Nigeria, has appealed to Nigerians to show people living with disabilities more love by putting an end to all forms of discrimination against them.
Speaking in Osogbo, Osun State on Saturday at the 9th national conference and Quran competition of the group, its Amir, Mr Abdulwasiu Salaudeen, urged Nigerians to allow their daughters to marry responsible specially the abled persons, rather than allowing them to marry able-bodied, but irrational men.
Salaudeen, though said with increased sensitisation, more Nigerians are beginning to do away with discrimination against people living with disabilities.
He, however, called for more support from all stakeholders to enable people with various forms of disabilities to live and relate with the rest of society without discrimination.
He further said, “Persons with disabilities are also part of the society. We want the society to see us as part of them. Compared to when we started this organisation, things are beginning to turn out well.
“Then, the majority of us are jobless. But now, we are much better than when we started. What we want from society is for them to see us as part of them. They should give us jobs and empower us. There is nothing an able man can do that Persons With Disabilities can’t do.
“Rather than giving out their daughters to men that would turn them into punching bags, why not allow them to marry men with a disability who would be more appreciative and take care of them?”
The conference attended by delegates from 27 states across the country was organised by MAVIN, an organisation founded on April 1, 2006, with the mandate of “Giving Vision to the Blind.”