Akwa Ibom Govt, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, Train Artisans, Clinicians on Mobility Aid Production, Distribute Wheelchairs

Akwa Ibom Govt, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, Train Artisans, Clinicians on Mobility Aid Production, Distribute Wheelchairs

The Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints has concluded a specialised training programme for clinicians and artisans on the assembly, fitting, and maintenance of wheelchairs and walking aids, alongside the distribution of mobility devices to persons with disabilities.

The closing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs on Thursday 4 June, brought together government officials, development partners, trainers from Uganda, and beneficiaries in what was described as a major step toward improving disability inclusion in the state.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, said the programme had equipped participants with practical skills in the repair, adaptation, and proper fitting of assistive mobility devices. She disclosed that over 263 wheelchairs and 181 walking aid devices were donated through partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She commended the collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, noting that the intervention reflected a shared commitment to restoring dignity, independence, and mobility for persons with disabilities.

Ibanga also praised the administration of Governor Umo Eno for what she described as an inclusive governance approach under the ARISE Agenda, citing disability-focused interventions such as educational support, civil service employment, and integration into state programmes.

According to her, the state government facilitated the clearance of the mobility aid consignment and ensured full administrative support for the successful implementation of the project. She added that the initiative would continue beyond the training, with ongoing fitting and distribution of purpose-built mobility aids.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Eno Akpan, traced the project’s origin to discussions in 2024 between the state government and the church, culminating in a formal agreement in January 2025. She noted that the programme experienced delays due to visa challenges but ultimately succeeded through sustained collaboration.

She described the training as a hands-on exercise that strengthened participants’ ability to design, fit, and maintain assistive devices tailored to individual needs, stressing that collaboration between artisans and healthcare professionals is key to effective disability support services.

Representatives of the Ugandan training team commended the participants, stating that the training followed World Health Organization guidelines and that trainees demonstrated strong learning capacity in wheelchair assembly and maintenance.

Speaking on behalf of the church, Elder Enefiok Tom Ntem of the Africa West Area said the humanitarian partnership reflects the church’s global commitment to service, describing the initiative as part of broader efforts to support vulnerable populations through healthcare, nutrition, and emergency response interventions.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the South-South Coordinator of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Mr. Edmond Ekanem, who applauded the partnership, as well as participants and the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, through its Chairman, Comrade Nsibiet John, who pledged continued support for disability advocacy and coverage.

The programme concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants and the distribution of wheelchairs to beneficiaries.