Governments at all levels, National Assembly and the citizenry have been told to prioritise issues that will improve the welfare and well-being of people with Disabilities (PWDs).
This is just as frowns at social-cultural practices, and the economic downturn that has negatively affected the fortunes of persons with disabilities.
This was the summation of the participants at a one day workshop organised by Stallion times, in conjunction with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative journalism and McArthur Foundation, held on Thursday in Lokoja.
The participants urged Governments at all levels to create equal opportunity for all the citizenry irrespective of physical and mental challenges.
While urging the government to factor in the People with disabilities in the national development plans, asked to consider their challenges by providing inclusive education across the state even as ramps and special conveniences should be available in public places and institutions.
Participants, however, charged the people to develop a relationship that enhances their self-confidence rather than indulging in actions that will make them feel abandoned on the basis of their conditions.
While appealing to parents to give free hands to their children to marry the love of their lives irrespective of the challenges of their would-be spouses, stressed the need to empower them with the needed skills that will make them competitive for gainful employment.
Earlier, the Editor in Chief of Stallion times, the organiser of the workshop, Isiyaku Ahmed, commended the participants for attending the workshop, despite tight schedules.
He said the training has become necessary because of the common and negative stereotypes of persons with disabilities which have penetrated the public, the media, and the governance eco-system in Kogi and other states of Nigeria.
He said the training was meant to promote issues-focused reporting on Disability to gain prominence in the mainstream media to influence national action towards disability.
He assured that trained journalists would be able to report on PwDs issues for print, broadcast, and digital media and highlight in clear terms their concerns on everyday happening.
While using the training to provoke positive action that would amplify and make good issues of disability in Kogi state and Nigeria through investigative reports, it would build capacity of media men.
Earlier, the Chairman of Kogi state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh thanked the organizers for choosing Kogi for the workshop and urged participants to make good use of the training.
He noted that the essence of the workshop is to input new ideas in reporting to change attitudes of the society to people with disabilities.
