CHAIRMAN'S DESK

Press conference on Ms Wheelchair Nigeria Pageant   01/11/2010

A press conference to announce the Ms Wheelchair Nigeria Pageant took place at the MAARDEC Empowerment Centre.

The event addressed the purpose, aims and objectives of the pageant

The event was well attended by representative of notable media houses, both print and electronic. Media houses represented include The Sun Newspapers, Punch Newspapers, Guardian Newspapers, Unilag FM, NTA, Encomium Magazine, City People and a host of others

History in the making with the first ever Pageant for people with disabilities   04/10/2010

A new pageant queen that will represent the interest of Nigerians living with disabilities will be crowned in December, Cosmas Okoli, the chief executive officer of Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Centre has said.

According to him, there are over 20 million Nigerians living with disabilities and many of them have shown great talent and courage, which have gone largely uncelebrated by the society.

Miss Wheelchair Nigeria, when crowned, will have the herculean task of "raising awareness about the abilities and needs of Nigerians living with disabilities and successfully advocating for plight in order to influence attitudinal and social change for all Nigerians."

What it takes to win

A prospective contestant should be able to use a wheelchair effectively and should be between 18 and 50 years. Marital status is not considered as a requirement.

The sustenance of the event, it is hoped, will bring the plight of physically challenged Nigerians, which everybody is interested in but nobody is acting on, to the front burner. The event will also produce nationally recognised role models who can be a source of inspiration and motivation for many Nigerians.

The contest is not to select the most attractive individual, It is a competition based on achievements, communication and presentation skills, and the ability to advocate for the over 20 million people living with disabilities in Nigeria.

One of the aims of the event, which is modelled after Miss Wheelchair USA pageant and will have the present Miss Wheelchair USA, Kate Matelan, present at the grand finale, is to challenge the traditional views of what makes someone beautiful.

The form for the pageant can be downloaded on the event's website, www.mswheelchairnigeria.com, where more information can be gained.

CELEBRATING AN ICON OF HOPE AND COURAGE   01/07/2010

MAARDEC celebrates its Board Chairman, Senator Bode Olajumoke as he clocks 66 at Bolingo Hotels & Towers Abuja on July 1, 2010.

The event started as appointed by a little over 6.15 p.m. with the arrival of the chief celebrant, Senator Bode Olajumoke. Guests and invitees arrived in droves to fill up the 300 or so capacity venue. The MC was at his best, throwing witty, politically charged barbs at the audience, consisting mostly of politicians, and leaving one and all in stitches

In an emotion laden tribute to the 66 year old celebrant, Mr. Okoli reeled out a catalogue of good deeds done by Senator Olajumoke to empower persons with disabilities; to which the audience applauded enthusiastically. Mr. Okoli extolled Senator Olajumoke as a champion of Nigerians with disabilities; citing the instance of his spearheading/sponsoring of a bill to protect the rights of Nigerians with disabilities on the floor of the Senate among others. Illustrating with a slide of Senator Olajumoke’s Abuja residence, which was fully accessible to persons with disabilities, Mr. Okoli painted a compelling picture of the man Olajumoke: a philanthropist extraordinaire. In a climax, Mr. Okoli, overcome by emotion, fought back tears in the middle of his speech; wondering out loud why this all important bill to empower over 19 million Nigerians with disabilities had still not been signed into law. A palpable hush fell over the room as Mr. Okoli bravely continued his exaltation; calling on all and sundry to emulate Senator Olajumoke; whose brand of philanthropy is strongly rooted in the Confucian maxim that it is better to teach a man how to catch fish than to give him fish. There were no dry eyes left in the audience as Mr. Okoli concluded his riveting speech amidst deafening applause.

Guests that graced the occassion inlcude Senators Henshaw, Annie Okonkwo and Chris Anyanwu, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Professor Dora Akunyili, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele

The event gave birth to the Hope and Courage award, a first of its kind, which was presented to Senator Olajumoke.

The guests also had the opportunity to reach to people with disabilities has they all made donations.

MAARDEC’S Novel children's Day Anniversary   27/05/2010

There was a lot of fanfare at this years Children's day anniversary held at the MAARDEC's premises. The party had about 400 guests, children and adults both able bodied and those with disabilities. DJs, Clowns and Musicians were on hand to provide entertainment for the day.

The children had a lot of games to play and a lot of fun activities as well, ranging from football goal shots for the football lovers, a bouncing castle, a train ride, fashion parades, passing round the case and dancing competitions and other fun activities for which the kids had opportunities to win fantastic prizes.

There were speeches by Mr. Cosmas I. B Okoli, (OON) the President/CEO MAARDEC which was tailored more towards the adults and by Miss. Chisom Okoli tailored towards the kids. Talented budding artists from Wesley schools for the hearing impaired were given awards for their outstanding performances in an international arts competition.

5 media houses, namely, The Guardian, This Day newspapers, The Compass, The Champion Newspapers and Ray power FM were present. All the newspapers published the story while Ray Power FM used the story the very next day. A production crew covered the event and will produce the video.

Sponsors of the novel event include Crusader Insurance, Banex group, Promasidor, The Noble Guards Security Company, Federal Road Safety Commission, Isolo Unit, Bamssey Events, Olive Decoration and Catering Services Nigeria Limited

NDLEA Nabs 11 Drug suspects   18/07/2010

11 persons suspected of drug-related offenses, have been arrested in Yobe state. The arrest followed an early morning raid on the Sunday market in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital. State sector sector commander of the agency, Prince Ben Ikani, said the action followed intelligence reports the agency received from communities around the market.

Eight Killed in Jos   18/07/2010

Eight residents of the Mazzah village in Jos North LGA, Plateau state were brutally killed in a fresh attack in the state by unknown assailants. Residents were attacked during the early hours of Saturday, July 17. The residents were scared out of their abode by sounds of sporadic gunshots into the waiting machetes of marauding assailants who slaughtered the unfortunate ones like animals.