TQM report,
The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in collaboration with the Albino Foundation hold on the maiden national dialogue on disability inclusion, on Thursday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The DG FCRN, Mansur Liman, said at a media briefing that the annual dialogue, with the topic: Imperative of Disability Inclusion in National Transformation, will explore on how to improve the life quality of the people with disabilities and address the integration and development issues that should be tackled.
Liman, who was represented by Director Finance and Account, Michael Oluwole, said people with disabilities in Nigeria are faced with barriers that limit their social inclusion and economic development.
He said the dialogue will raise national consciousness to disability inclusion and make policy makers aware of the importance of disability as well as development issue.
The Founder of The Albino Foundation (TAF), Mr Jake Epelle who informed that TAF was established in 2006 to cater for persons with albinism and other vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities and it envisions an inclusive society for all.
Speaking further, he said the lecture is an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together for the promotion of disability inclusion in all sectors.
He noted that the estimate by the World Health Organization in 2018 that about 29 million of the 195 million people in Nigeria have some form of disability is probably higher because currently available data underestimate the prevalence.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the FRCN Annual Lecture has over the years been an avenue for the Corporation to live up to its mantra of “Uplifting the people and uniting the nation” not only through its programming, but also through social responsibility.
This year’s Lecture, he said, was different from the political, social and economic themes that have been explored in the past, saying there was no denying the fact that nation-building and transformation would continue to be a mirage without carrying along all segments of the society.
The FRCN annual lecture series started out in 2007 as the FRCN October Lecture as a birth gift to the country in the month of independence to address prevalent national issues.
This is to stimulate public understanding and to contribute to the national discourse on topical and contemporary issues and this year, the lecture focused on disability inclusion to get major stakeholders to dialogue on how persons with disabilities can be better mainstream in the society.
