Persons with disabilities in Ekiti state and its environs will soon heave a sigh of relief as Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI Nigeria) is set to partner the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti state command to ensure access to justice and security of lives and properties for persons with disabilities in Ekiti state.
This was disclosed during the working visit paid by the Disability Desk Office of the command to DINABI’s office in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, 6th March, 2023.
The Disability Desk Officer of the Ekiti state command of NSCDC, Adejuwon Yemisi (ASCI) said the command is passionate about the rights of persons with disabilities to justice and security of lives and properties hence the decision of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to have a Disability Desk Office in all the 36 states as well as in the various local governments of the federation.
Officer Adejuwon said the Ekiti State Commandant, John Olatunde Fayemi will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure every form of discrimination, harassment, violence and every form of social vices against persons with disabilities are totally eradicated and justice properly served.
One of the members of the Disability Desk Office in the command, Officer Olanbiwonnu Moyo, while speaking said there is the need for the command especially the Disability Desk to partner with DINABI being a foremost Organization of Persons with Disability (OPD) in Nigeria to ensure access to justice for persons with disabilities.
She said further that training and re-training of personnel, technical support, experience sharing and other important support shall be required. She stressed that he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches hence the decision of the corps to run an inclusive system of defense and security using the UN mantra, Nothing about us without us.
While responding, the Executive Director of DINABI Nigeria, Mr Olajide Funso appreciated the team from the command for finding out time to pay them the working visit.
He said, “when the news filtered in late last year that NSCDC had setup a Disability Desk Office across all the state commands in the country, our joy knows no bound as we believe it was long overdue and finally, NSCDC will give us what we have been craving for”.
Olajide said the confidence citizens especially persons with disabilities have in the NSCDC in defending and delivering unbiased justice to its citizens had further been boosted by the creation of Desk office that will ultimately put an end to discrimination, humiliation and violence against persons with disabilities.
A Senior Program Officer with DINABI, Michael Ogunduyile said the organization is ready to partner with the command especially the Disability Desk Office in order to ensure that the rights of PWDs are not violated.
He said people have often taken advantage of certain perceived weaknesses of persons with disabilities, thereby making life difficult for them within the society.
Michael said DINABI will work out modalities for specific interventions and activities that will boost disability-friendly response by the command as well as foster a mutual relationship between the command and the disability community in Ekiti state.
