TheCable

The Centre for Youth Studies (CYS), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called for a review of the social work curriculum to include the study and understanding of disabilities.

Seyi Sanjo-Bankole, executive director of CYS, spoke during a capacity-building seminar for social work students tagged, “understanding of disabilities”.

Sanjo-Bankole said public institutions were expected to reserve at least five percent of employment opportunities for people with disabilities (PWDs).

“The seminar is also a stepping stone to the goal of the project which is the proposal to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the review of the social work curriculum to include the study and understanding of disabilities,” she said.

Sanjo-Bankole added that the event provided a training handbook and learning from the parley with disability rights advocates to equip participants with first-hand knowledge of the strength of persons with disabilities.

“We will keep campaigning, sensitising and creating awareness to the public about the fact that PWDs are also human beings with intellect, talents, gifts, special abilities and value to give to the society,” she added.

She said the seminar was organised to enable the students to have the relevant skills they need to relate to PwDs.

Over 200 undergraduates of the social work department from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and some students of Babcock University, were trained at the seminar in the art and rudiments of understanding disabilities.

Chinwe Nwanna, head of department of social work at the University of Lagos, also corroborated the need for a review of the curriculum to include the study and understanding of disabilities.

Nwanna said social workers play a major role in alleviating the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.

“PWDs have peculiar challenges which most people don’t understand, and that has led some into depression and created a feeling of hopelessness,” she said.