Tolu Bankole Advocates Free Education, Healthcare for Persons with Disabilities

Tolu Bankole Advocates Free Education, Healthcare for Persons with Disabilities

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

A chieftain and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Working Committee, Aare (Hon.) Tolu Bankole, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to adopt and implement a national policy that guarantees free education and free healthcare services for all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across the country.

In a passionate appeal issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Aare Bankole noted that the prevailing economic situation  which has impacted the cost of medicines and assistive drugs, has placed a disproportionate burden on Nigerians with disabilities.

“I canvass for free education from primary to tertiary and free health services for PWDs as a national government policy. This is a matter of necessity and social justice,” he said.

According to the APC chieftain, inclusive education is not only a right but a critical pathway to self-sustainability, self-employment, and full economic and financial inclusion of PWDs in the national development process. He stressed that when people with disabilities are empowered through education, they are better positioned to contribute meaningfully to society, support their families, and live with dignity.

“Education will help in ensuring self-sustainability. It is a bridge to self-employment and a powerful tool for economic empowerment. When PWDs are educated, they are equipped to lift themselves out of poverty and exclusion,” he added.

On healthcare, Aare Bankole decried the ever-rising cost of medicines, assistive devices, and specialised medical care required by PWDs to survive and function daily. “Health is a fundamental human right. The cost of drugs and other medical essentials has gone beyond the reach of many PWDs. Without intervention, many of our people are left to suffer in silence and die. This must not continue,” he stressed.

He called on the Federal Government to institutionalise a PWD-specific health and education subsidy programme, which will provide free, quality medical treatment and accessible education at all levels; from primary to tertiary.

Bankole commended the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the administration to do more for the over 30 million Nigerians with disabilities by implementing targeted social protection measures.

“True inclusivity demands intentionality. As the government seeks to lift the most vulnerable, we must act decisively to reduce the burdens that PWDs face daily,” he stated.

He further urged state governments, local authorities, and private sector actors to join hands in ensuring that no person with a disability is denied education or healthcare because of their condition or economic status.

Aare Bankole reaffirmed his commitment to continue engaging with relevant government institutions and lawmakers to ensure the realisation of this demand in line with global best practices and Nigeria’s obligations under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.