The EU and Albino Foundation (TAF), have reiterated their partnership to promote disability inclusion in the electoral process ahead of the 2023 general elections.
This partnership was cemented at one day working visit of the European Union High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Samuela Isopi.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The Albino Foundation (TAF), Jake Epelle while welcoming the Ambassador, commended EU for their support in championing the cause of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Speaking further, Mr. Epelle urged that as the political campaigns slated to commence on Sept. 28, it is important the political parties made the campaigns inclusive and they should also emphasize on what the candidates will do for the community of persons with disability.
“We want to use this opportunity to also call on the community of persons with disability that if you haven’t collected your voters card, please do well to go to a designated point and collect your PVC”.
“Remember that with your votes, you have the power in your hands to change the landscape of inclusivity in Nigeria, and any political party that ignores us will do that at their own peril”.
“This is because we have the number and we can change and determine the cause of the political landscape in the country come 2023″.
“The EU has empowered us and has given us whatever we need to ensure that the community of persons with disabilities will participate not only for them to vote, but for them to be voted for,’’ he said.
Epelle commended the ambassador for supporting them and the EU for giving it grant as investment in disability community in the political space as well as the gift of a vehicle to support its works.
James Lalu, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), speaking through his representative, Mr. Soji Adewale, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCPWD commended EU for supporting Organization of Persons with disabilities and Commission.
“The commission was established with the sole aim of inclusion of persons with disabilities in all facets of life and Commission has been partnering with several organizations including The Albino Foundation to achieve this aim” he added..
He assured that NCPWD is willing to collaborate with more MDAs, international development partners and others to guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities.
Comrade Agbo Christian, The Executive Director, The Qualitative Magazine speaking on behalf of the media partners of TAF , while commending the media for the role they have been playing to advance disability inclusion, he urged media practitioners to give disability issues more attention, saying that disability rights is human rights and it is everybody’s business because you don’t know whose next to join disability community.
He commended EU for supporting TAF and other OPDs and appealed to the Ambassador to keep her doors open because a lot more OPDs would be coming because there is a lot of work to do towards advancing disability inclusion.
Ms Samuela Isopi in her response said that her visit was to demonstrate EU’s support to the Albino Foundation and commitment to continue to work together for greater inclusion in Nigeria.
According to her, Human Rights and inclusivity are something which are very much part of the DNA of the EU.
“This is very much part of the values on which the EU is founded and this is why the promotion of these values is also something which is always at the centre of what we do in our partner countries.
“What we do is always something that is at the centre of our actions and policies, we are very happy and also very lucky here in Nigeria to have the Albino Foundation’ all of you as our allies in this long journey, our role is actually to support you.
“I really want to thank you and congratulate you for the impressive achievements made possible by your commitment, we are very proud to partner and to continue to work with you to promote greater inclusion in the electoral process,’’ she said.
Isopi said greater inclusion of persons with disabilities was one of the key recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission after monitoring the elections in 2019.
She said part of the recommendations indicated that political parties should be legally required to have policies on the political participation of persons with disabilities.
Isopi said this includes provision of access to poling units, provision of devices, and information in all formats among others.
She said the right of persons with disabilities was one of the seven priorities defined in EU’s new human rights and democracy country strategy for Nigeria.
The EU official said this was because EU knows how important it was not to leave anyone behind, adding that the campaigns were here, so the union would work with Albino Foundation to make a difference in the Electoral process.
