National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has urged Religious and Traditional leaders in Nigeria to assist in creating awareness for inclusion, representation and protection of Person with Disabilities.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr James Lalu made this call while speaking at a one-day National Disability Summit organized by the NCPWD on Wednesday in Abuja.
The event is part of NCPWD’s activities to mark International Day for Persons with disabilities (IDPD).
Mr. James Lalu in his speech said that religious institutions play a vital role in the community development because they are seen as part of the community lives. That is why NCPWD embark on this advocacy to involve them to promote disability inclusion.
“In disability community, our concern is the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the religious institution because they play a vital role in the development of persons with disabilities”
“One takeaway from my visit to Sultan of Sokoto is the promote to adopt this and he suggested that we convene this meeting”
He appealed to religious and traditional organisations to collaborate with the commission in bringing an atmosphere to give people with disabilities a meaningful life.
Speaking Mr. Lalu said that this year’s summit seeks to raise the consciousness of religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria to use their platforms and speak to their subjects and followers to treat persons with disabilities with dignity and encourage them to be part of discourse to develop the country, as well as avoiding harmful practices against them.
“We want to see persons with disabilities encouraged to become Priests, Imans and other vital leadership positions within religious institutions”
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Daniel Okoh in his goodwill message said that churches and mosques should mainstream persons with disabilities by assigning duties to them during worships and also remove all barriers that may hinder them from worshiping with others.
He urged the society to do more in helping persons with disabilities to achieve their vision by promoting an inclusion society.
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, emphasized the need to assist persons with disabilities to achieve their potentials, and inclusion is all about give opportunity to all irrespective of the physical attributes.
“I turbaned a person with disability last weekend, it is part of promoting inclusion”
He affirmed his commitment and availability to work with the commission to actualize a more inclusive society for PWDs.
“I am promising James that where he wants to go or whoever he wants to see even the President to promote disability inclusion, I am behind him”
His eminent, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the founder, Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace in his remark said disability inclusion should be business of all because you don’t die young, you will surely experience disability. He said that disability community should include old people in their advocacy because old age is type of disability. He called on more commitments towards disability inclusion.
The Country Advocacy Coordinator of Sight Savers, Esther Bature in her remark said the implementation of policies to enhance the inclusion and protection of people with disabilities is key.
She said the choice of religious and traditional rulers for the summit is to be able to drive the needed credibility in the minds of those who receive the message on inclusion of people with disabilities.
“You will agree with me that we all worship somewhere, if not in the church, it’s the mosque, and we listen to our religious and traditional rulers a lot. So we want them to assist us in addressing the issue of stigma and discrimination.
“We also need their assistance in issues around using persons with disabilities for ritual purposes. People with albinism and hunchback are usually soft targets for ritual purposes. But when they hear from the pulpit or the mosque, they will know these are just misconceptions. It will create awareness that it is time to move away from those ancient practices and embrace inclusion” she said.
The National Summit is the second in the series by the Commission on fostering Disability Inclusion and it was declared open by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo represented by the State House Chaplain, Pastor Joseph Malomo.
The summit witnessed panel discussions and launch of some policies on assistive technology, National Assistive Technology Scale-up Plan and Assistive Technology Investment Case supported by Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
