Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) on Thursday in Abuja carried out public presentation of sign language interpreters Manual, Research on Accessible Elections for PWDs in Nigeria, and the INEC PWD COVID-19 Prevention Protocol.
The Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and Convener, Access Nigeria Campaign, Grace Jerry in her opening remark said that these documents are timely intervention for stakeholders who are working to improve access to elections for persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Over few months, advocates, leaders of disability community to develop a sign language manual for inclusive electoral process, the document will assist INEC and other organizations involved in electioneering to enhance effective communication of the deaf voters at the elections. In collaboration with the leadership of Nigerian National Association of Deaf (NNAD) and Association of Sign Language Interpreters in Nigeria (ASLIN), they develop the manual to guide INEC in recruitment, deployment and management of sign language interpreters.
“To drive evidence-based for electoral accessibility of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria, IFA conducted a research on the cost of inclusive elections for PWDs in Nigeria, inclusion comes with the financial commitment for implementing organizations, as a result, the research provides first outline to support the National Assembly and INEC in adequately allocate funding for the purpose of providing election materials format for PWDs in Nigeria” She said.
She added that we live in a new normal, there is unusual way of doing things and we must adapt to it. In view of this, IFA produces INEC PWD COVID-19 prevention Protocol in Elections which provides recommendations on the safety strategies for PWDs in the upcoming elections especially in Edo and Ondo Elections.
INEC National Commissioner, Amina B. Zakari in her goodwill message at the event said that over the years, INEC have supported Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and so far, it has been witnessed incremental success. She expressed joy that the advocacy by OPDs are gaining momentum. Going by the country’s ratification of UNCRPD and African Charter on Democracy, elections and governance, INEC has been working hard to facilitate access and inclusion of PWDs in Elections in Nigeria. INEC has done this through provision of Braille Ballot Guide for the blind voters, provision of magnifying glasses for voters with albinism, making polling units more accessible for PWDs, and now Sign language interpretation manual to promote inclusive electoral process in Nigeria and PWD COVID-19 Protocol. These documents will strengthen INEC framework on mainstream PWDs in the elections and it is addition to other sustained effort of the INEC to provide access and inclusion for PWDs. She concluded by expressing her joy for being part of this history making event.
Hermann Thiel, the Country Coordinator, International Foundation for Systems (IFES) commended IFA for the initiative, saying that they as an organization are proud to identify with IFA and he urged INEC and organization to make proper use of these documents.
Sebastian Shikel, a representative of Oxfam Voice expressed joy for the initiative, describing the initiative as one that the Voice team are proud of and urged relevant stakeholders who have responsibility of using the manual to queue into this initiative and he prayed and believe these document will achieve all that it set out to achieve.
Hon. Salihu Usman Zurmi, a person with disability and a member of Zamfara state Assembly, speaking at the event said that PWDs are always neglected in the political arena because of the belief that they shouldn’t be there but he was of the opinion that if PWDs are opportunity, they will even perform better. He believes that PWDs should be given some level of consideration in the electoral process. In his own part, he is sponsoring a bill with the title: A bill for a law to safeguard person with disabilities in Zamfara State from all forms of discriminations, promote access and their opportunities in all aspect of living in the society and matters ancillary there to zo zo. It has passed first reading in the state house of assembly. He called on development partners, NGOs to support the bill so that the bill can go for public hearing and that inputs shall be made to enrich the document, the process concluded and it will be transmitted to the governor.
Dr. Ogunmola Ladipo, Coordinator, Outreach and Partnership Committee, INEC in his keynote address on the topic; INEC PWDs inclusion and COVID-19 Prevention Protocol for the Edo State Governorship Election, said that INEC is committed to ensure inclusion of PWDs in all their activities. He said before now, INEC have always engaged the services of sign language interpreters in all its events.
He added that in Bayelsa and Kogi elections, INEC took it forward to the services of the sign language interpreters to ease the communication barriers face by the deaf voters at the polling unit.
Leaders of PWDs capacity should be built to engage other PWDs, there will be Braille Ballot Guide, accessibility of the polling unit must be ensured and many other measures to ensure access and inclusion for PWDs in electoral process. He added that INEC must abide by all the NCDC protocols on COVID-19, PTF and State Task force on COVID-19 in all the electoral process in Edo and Ondo.
Dagbo Suleiman Saka, NNAD President commended INEC for the effort in provide access for PWDs in electoral process. He said the sign language help the deaf to keep in tab with the society, it provides full information for electoral process to the deaf and it gives deaf people of belonging especially in the electoral process. He commended IFA for the initiative and proposed that INEC, IFA, NNAD and ASLIN should work together to scale up this initiative.
Rev. Mrs. Georgia Y. A Ugah, the National Financial Secretary, ASLIN, speaking at the event said that in Enugu state where she come from, only few deaf people participate in the elections, she assured ASLIN commitment to ensure that the success of the initiative.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the documents by the dignitaries.
The project was supported by Voice Nigeria, National Endownment For Democracy (NED), NAPVID, ASLIN and NNAD
