By Abbas Ibrahim
The Executive Director of Empowering Single Moms and Widows Initiative, Zainab Babajide Olaleye, has called on parents, caregivers and close associates of persons with special needs to provide consistent care, guidance and emotional support to help them live with dignity and greater independence.
Olaleye made the call while responding to concerns over the abandonment and neglect of persons with special needs by family members and other people close to them.
She stressed that persons with special needs often face multiple challenges in their daily lives, making it difficult for some of them to cope independently with emerging circumstances.
According to her, families and caregivers should not wait until challenges become overwhelming before providing assistance, but should proactively equip persons with special needs with essential life skills.
She particularly urged parents and caregivers to coach them on personal hygiene, self-care, communication and other practical skills that can improve their confidence, safety and ability to participate meaningfully in society.
“Persons with special needs need care, patience, understanding and continuous support. We must not abandon them because of the challenges they face. Instead, we should help them develop the skills they need to live as independently as possible,” she said.
Olaleye emphasised that caring for persons with disabilities should be viewed not as a burden but as a shared responsibility requiring compassion, inclusion and respect for human dignity.
She also disclosed that her organisation had empowered 1,000 single mothers and 176 persons with disabilities through a project implemented by Joberman Skills, providing beneficiaries with opportunities to acquire skills and improve their livelihoods.
She called for stronger collaboration among families, government agencies, civil society organisations and communities to ensure that persons with special needs are protected from neglect, discrimination and social exclusion.
Olaleye further advocated an approach that goes beyond material assistance to include skills development, emotional support, healthcare, personal-care training and social inclusion, saying every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and contribute to society.
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