TQM report,
Africa Polling Institute, a renowned research institute on Tuesday in Abuja organized a One-Day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Nigeria Disability Research Project.
The research institute through the workshop was advocating for accurate data of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria that would be helpful for planning of programmes targeting PWDs.
Prof. Bell Ihua, Executive Director, API in his opening speech said that the project which is born out of the need to have an evidence-based disaggregated data on Persons With Disability (PWDs) in Nigeria,
He described lack of data for persons with disabilities as one of the greatest challenges that have stand in the way of the quest for disability inclusion.
The project support by Ford Foundation is geared towards generating national data on persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
He also explained that the project has four components, the first is working with the National Bureau of Statistics to generate nation wide data on persons with disabilities. The second component is working with academia to engage state government officials in a research to collect disability disaggregated data at the state level. The third component is all about building the capacity of persons with disabilities to play part in the research and help gather the data. There are many Organizations of Persons with disabilities (OPDs) who wishes to advocate but they lack the research skill to advocate, so this project is going to help them gain the necessary research skill to be able to do the necessary advocacy. The fourth component is to conduct a study on sexual and gender based violence against people with disabilities.
Speaking further, he called on the States that are yet to domesticate the disability Act, to do so in the interest of persons with disabilities.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle, appreciated API for the initiative and said that the outcome of the project would be excellent and beneficial to the disability community. He pledged to support API in the process to ensure that the exercise become successful. He expressed hope that National Bureau of Statistics would own the process and ensure that this outcome would be used for National Planning. He suggested to API to also engage professionals within the disability community to be part of the process.
The National President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ekaete Umoh, while making her remark was optimistic that the outcome of the research would help the PWDs have constructive engagements with the authorities. “Data is everything, data matters when it comes to planning and if we do not have accurate data about the situation of persons with disabilities and without data, it is going to be extremely difficult to even implement the disability Act,” she added.
Ephraim Omoreige, The Chairman, Abuja Association of The Deaf in his remark appreciated API, pledged the support of Deaf Community and also said that it would help the deaf community to gather data of the Deaf in Nigeria. He also said that the outcome of the project would be useful to the Deaf community and Persons with Disabilities.
Peace Oriaku, a program officer at Centre for Citizens With Disabilities who represented the Executive Director, CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, in her remark emphasized the importance of disability disaggregated data and how CCD is ready to work with any organization interested in gathering data of persons with disabilities. She pledged that CCD is ready to support the process whenever they are called upon.
Academia representing each geopolitical zones took turn to carry out presentations on The State of the disability law in their respective zones, Professor Elisa Wahab for South west region, Dr. Grace Bila for North West region, Professor Uzoma Okoye for South East region, Dr. Adaka Terfa for North East Region, Dr. Umar Kari for North Central Region and Dr. Oluseyi Dada for South South Region.
TQM learnt that these academia were saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the project in the states within their respective regions.
The use of Washington Group Short Set of Questions to measure PWDs were introduced and explained to the participants by a renowned disability advocate and expert, Dr. Israel Balogun. The participants also reviewed the Indictors/ Survey tools as the Institute get set to administer the tools for research across all states of the federation.
