National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire funds 2,000 citizens with disabilities to unlock jobs and rights
LONACI provides CFA10million (€15,244) to help 2,000 people with disabilities, opening doors to employment and social integration.
Côte d’Ivoire.- In a major push for inclusion, the National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI) is investing CFA10 million (€15,244) to provide national ID cards to 2,000 people with disabilities. LONACI emphasised that this is “not charity” but an investment in equal opportunities, opening doors to jobs, rights and full participation in society.
LONACI and its Foundation handed over two separate cheques totalling CFA10m (€15,244) to the National Office of Civil Status and Identification (ONECI) at LONACI’s headquarters in Abidjan. The donation of CFA5m (€7,622) from LONACI and CFA5m (€7,622) from its Foundation underscores their shared commitment to empowerment, equal opportunity and solidarity.
This will provide the crucial documents needed for employment and social integration, giving recipients a “tangible pathway to independence and economic opportunity”, according to Ago Christian Kodia, Director General of ONECI.
“Identity is a fundamental right, a factor in social and economic integration. Thanks to this support, thousands of people living with disabilities will be able to obtain their national identity cards,” said Kodia, according to Abidjan.net.
Investing in equal opportunities, not charity
Director General of LONACI, Dramane Coulibaly, said the initiative is more than financial assistance, emphasising that its broader impact is an “investment in equal opportunities and not charity”.
“This is not just a piece of plastic that we are financing. The national identity card is a passport to citizenship, access to rights and participation in elections. Our gesture is an investment in equal opportunities,” he said.
Coulibaly called on other corporate citizens to join the effort. His appeal emphasised that inclusion and unity are collective responsibilities. He said that contributing to equal access for people with disabilities “strengthens the fabric of Côte d’Ivoire society”.
By turning a financial donation into a stepping stone for employment, civic participation and social recognition, LONACI and its Foundation have reframed charity as an investment in human potential, sending a powerful message about the role of corporate citizens in building an inclusive nation.
