Phase3 Telecom, West Africa’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider under its corporate social responsibility banner has announced its partnership with Star Children Development Initiative (SCDI) to raise awareness and promote digitally enhanced and good quality of life for children with disabilities. This the firm, shared with the public at the unveiling of its yuletide season program line-up in Abuja.
Stanley Jegede, chief executive officer , Phase3 Telecom – highlighted the great challenges faced by children with physical or intellectual disabilities and indeed their immediate families. He maintained that these gifted children are gravely marginalized the world over and in Nigeria, perhaps three times more.
This is unacceptable as they have the right to respect, dignity and good standard of living as every human should.
He also said “no matter the severity of their impairment or disability; it must be ensured that children and of course all persons with disabilities are able to meaningfully participate in all aspects of their lives from social, economic to political. The prejudice against these children and persons must be totally eradicated and we all must collectively ensure their social and digital inclusion. A clear indication of such discrimination in the area of digital inclusion is the fact that despite the extraordinary growth in mobile and internet use worldwide, very little has been done to ascertain that persons with physical and intellectual disabilities are included in the technology revolution”.
Jegede concluded with the statement that Phase3 Telecom considers it a great privilege to partner with Star Children Development Initiative (SCDI) to raise awareness for the eradication of stigma while encouraging the social integration and digital inclusion of children with disabilities in Nigerian communities.
He called on every individual to rise up against the discomfiting institutionalization and discrimination of children with disabilities; as the world celebrates the upcoming United Nations “International Day for Persons with Disabilities”.
Star Children Development Initiative (SCDI) is a Nigeria based charity organization founded by Mrs. Grace Abimbola; to safeguard the well-being and raise awareness about the challenges faced by children with disabilities (0-21 years old) and their families. SCDI works in partnership with other stakeholders to promote good quality of life and offer FREE services for these children.