Renown Nigerian Prophetess, Rose Kelvin and her husband, Bishop Dr. Nwafor Kelvin at the weekend provided succour for thousands of less privileged Nigerians in Masaka, Nasawara  State.

Aimed at assuaging the harsh economic situation in the country, considering the growing figure of poor Nigerians, Kelvin noted that the need to reduce the challenges faced by the masses remained sacrosanct for her and her husband.

Currently standing at 90 million, the figure of poor Nigerians, regarded as the highest in the world is projected to hit 100 million by 2022 given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. Poor and vulnerable people live below the poverty line of $1.90.

Coming at a time when Nigeria’s unemployment rate as of the end of 2020 rose to 33.3 per cent from 27.1 per cent recorded as of second 2020, Kelvin stressed that her foundation would do everything possible to fete less privileged Nigerians.

At Masaka, a suburban settlement of the Federal Capital Territory, Kelvin offered food items as well as cash gift while praying for God’s blessing on the teeming crowd, which gathered at Masaka Government Secondary School.

Recall that the generous Prophetess, who heads Unveiling the Veiled Ministry, Abuja had earlier sold a 2020 luxurious SUV gifted her by an unknown politician to feed the poor, as she splashed over sixty million naira on a charity project by distributing over 5000 (25kg) bags of Rice and financial empowerment to the sum of N200,000 each for Widows, aged people, and those with special cases and disabilities.

Storming Government Secondary School Masaka over the weekend, Propheese Rose Kelvin splashed millions of naira on the less privileged.
According to her, the passion for charity outreaches goes beyond ministry.

by Chris Agbo,

Research has shown that women and girls with disabilities (WGWDs) are more vulnerable to Gender Based Violence (GBV) especially sexual violence which may result in trauma-related disorders and/or eventually lead to permanent behavioral or personality changes. Due to the multiple barriers they face in accessing healthcare services and the poor adherence to global standards and best practices by service providers to provide professional survivor centered, emotional and psycho-social support mechanisms, their experiences of violence remain hidden and unaddressed.

To address the above concerns, Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) with support from the Spotlight Initiative organized a 3-day training of service providers on psychosocial/trauma counseling to build the capacity of SGBV service providers in making high quality essential and disability inclusive counseling services available to survivors of gender-based violence. The training held on Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th March 2021 in Abuja.

The Executive Director, DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu in her opening remark said that the Greater Inclusion, Responses and Linkages in SRHR and SGBV Services for WGWDs in the FCT (GIRLS) Project which is supported by Spotlight Initiative is particularly important because it is geared towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities in the FCT by capacitating SGBV service providers to be more responsive and proactive in the discharge of their duties. She urged the participants to take advantage of the training as it has been designed to be participatory and facilitated by one of the best experts in psychosocial counseling.

DRAC’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer, Noel Balogun Samuel, while presenting an overview of the GIRLS Project said that the essence of the training is to build the capacity of SGBV service providers to address the psychosocial needs of WGWDs who experience trauma, mental health related forms of distress and those who are survivors of gender-based violence. He added that collaboration with Government agencies in scaling counseling and mental health services and fostering reintegration of WGWDs who are victims/survivors of SGBV should be prioritized.

The representative of UN women, Tosin Akibu in her speech appreciated the participants for making out time to acquire the knowledge of counseling which is lacking in the response to gender-based violence (GBV). She opined that the multi-dimensional vulnerabilities that WGWDs face exposes them to multi-layers of trauma and unfortunately, most service providers are unable to provide beyond psychological first aid. She appreciated DRAC for taking up the initiative which she described as timely and urged the participants to use learnings from the training to redefine response to SGBV in the FCT.

The Consultant, Onyekwue Francis Nnadozie, National Coordinator, Trauma Awareness and Resilience (TAR) Initiative took the participants through definitions and types of stress, trauma, burnout, and their differences.  He also covered topics around psychosocial support, psychosocial wellbeing and Skills needed in psychosocial support delivery and the benefits of counseling. The training was generally participatory as there were several group-works which helped to improve the participants’ understanding of the topics.

The highlight of the event was when some of the participants shared their traumatic experiences. It provided some moment of emotional healing and laying off traumatic experiences so that weights which could easily form an encumbrance to the discharge of their services are laid off. This was accompanied by a role play on what an ideal and appropriate counselling session should be.

The participants were presented with certificates of participation at the end of the training and were advised to acquire more training on counseling because it would be helpful to them as SGBV service providers.

Participants were drawn from the health sector, justice services, law enforcement agencies like the police, lawyers working with survivors of SGBV, Government MDAs in SGBV response like NAPTIP and National Human Rights Commission, authorities of special schools and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs).  

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, have been commended for employing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Senior Pastor of Praise Arena-Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Dr. Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, gave the commendation at a thanksgiving service for two blind graduates, Adesola Adedokun Ajayi and Joseph Adeniyi Omoare, who are beneficiaries of the church’s scholarship.

Ajayi, a graduate of Law from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was employed by Lagos State Ministry of Justice while Omoare, a graduate of Education from Oyo State College of Education, was among the 150 persons with disabilities recently employed by the Oyo State Government. 

The cleric commended the efforts of the governors in providing sustainable livelihoods for persons with disabilities.

He noted that without access to quality education and sustainable livelihoods, children with disabilities would not be able to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

He reiterated the readiness of the church to impact more lives and as well work with other institutions.

The pastor implored the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by creating opportunities that would make life better for other vulnerable people. 

Ajayi, while thanking the church and state governments for making the lives of PWDs better, said: “We need support and policy framework that would include PWDs in governance. I have discovered that across all sectors of our national life, which include transportation, housing, environment and education, people with special needs go through harrowing experiences that need urgent attention.”

TQM report,

Jacob Agada emerged as the new Chairman of Nigeria Association of the Blind, FCT Chapter.

He was declared winner in a peaceful election organized by the association where he scored 37 votes to get better of his rival Obinna Bede Ekujereonye who scored 8 votes.

In his speech after swearing in, the new Chairman promised to run an all inclusive administration where everybody will be involved in NAB FCT activities. He also promised that the new administration will take NAB FCT to an enviable height.

He therefore called on every member to join hands in making NAB FCT great again.

Kalu Eke was elected as the Vice Chairman with 43 votes, Adaobi Ebonyi was elected as the Public Relations Officer, David Balogu as the Youth Leader among others.

TQM report,

The Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Disability Matters, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie said the governor has done tremendously well for the persons with disabilities in Anambra State.

Barr. Ezewuzie made this known during a press briefing to commemorate governor Obiano’s seventh year anniversary at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.

Correspondent Chibuzor Okoye reports that while  X-raying governor Obiano’s seven years of all-inclusive and innovative governance, Barrister Ezewuzie explained that Governor Obiano created Office of the Governor on Disability Matters to assist him in formulating policies and programmes geared towards the welfare  of persons with disabilities in Anambra State.

According to Barr. Ezewuzie, the governor has provided numerous opportunities to persons with disabilities, such as skill acquisition trainings and empowerments, massive employment into the State civil service, appointment of persons with disabilities into the Anambra State Executive Council, among others.

He described governor Obiano as the most disability friendly governor in Nigeria, even as he praised his wife, Dr. Ebelechukwu Obiano for all her humanitarian assistance to the persons with disabilities in the state and prayed God to bless them.

The Anambra State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, who doubled as the Executive Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Disability Services said that they are celebrating seven years of purposeful leadership and praised the governor for taking adequate care of their members in Anambra State since he assumed office.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Public Utilities and Water Resources, Engineer Victor Meju, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sign Language Communications, Mr. Collins Joseph, among others, were present during the briefing that climaxed with a question and answer session.

TQM report,

Stakeholders in Anambra have called for the full implementation of Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018).

The group also emphasized on the need for the establishment of the disability rights commission.

The call was made at the JONAPWD 1-day sensitization meeting with Justice and Support Service Providers/ Relevant MDAs on the need for the implementation of Anambra State Disabilities Rights Law (2018).

While delivering her remark, Mrs Josephine Onah, noted that persons with disabilities suffer different forms of discrimination which necessitated their involvement in the accomplishment of the establishment of the Disabilities Rights Law in Anambra state.

She however, noted that getting the law without the full implementation would only be an effort in futility, hence their support to JONAPWD in advocating for the implementation of the law.

She therefore challenged the different service providers and relevant MDAs to critically look into the law and find ways of moving the law from its passive state to the state of implemention by doing what is expecting of them, mentioning that the aim of the law is to create parity between the society and persons with disabilities. She also emphasized that the establishment of the Disabilities Rights Commission would be a milestone in the fight for the implementation of the law as it would ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the benefits of the law.

In his welcome remark, the state chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Comr. Ugochukwu Okeke, highlighted the aims of the program which was to share the report of the research conducted by the association on the needs of persons with disabilities in Anambra state, sensitize the service providers on the contents of the Disabilities Rights Law, and get the responses of the service providers/ relevant MDAs on what they would do differently in order to ensure the implementation of the ASDRL. He also highlighted the responsibilities of these service providers to whom the association had paid advocacy visits on the implementation of the law which, according to him, will only be an academic exercise if not implemented.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Umeokwonna Ugonna and the president Customary Court of Awka, His Honour, Princewill Iwuafor, took turn to intimate the participants on the contents of the research report and Anambra State Disabilities Rights Law respectively.

In their separate remarks, the service providers/ relevant MDAs while commending RoLAC for the great work they are doing in the state, pledged their unalloyed support and willingness to fulfill their responsibilities in order to ensure the full implementation of the law.

The State Bureau of Statistics pledged their continuous update of the data of persons with disabilities which will assist the government in its planning, policy making and budget preparation.

The National Orientation Agency pledged to educate all staff members on disability etiquettes, break down the contents of the research report and the law to the people at the grassroots and synergize with other service providers and MDAs to ensure the implementation of the law.

The Community Empowerment Network and the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education and the National Human Rights Commission promised to double their efforts in order to ensure their continuous support to persons with disabilities and protection of their rights.

The State director, Legal Aid Council, Dr Mmaduabuchi Ukamaka, pledged the provision of pro bono lawyers for persons with disabilities. She also used the opportunity to notify JONAPWD of the Council’s provision of three disability desk officers charged with the responsibility of receiving cases of persons with disabilities, and as well, expressed her willingness to have the staff of the Council trained on sign language communication. Also in their separate remarks, the representatives of ABS and Odenigbo FM, Mrs Ify Unachukwu and Mr. Ogemdi Ozoemena also pledged their continuous support and partnership with JONAPWD in the creation of awareness about the law.

In his vote of thanks, JONAPWD treasurer and Chairman, Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, Mr Amobi Nwagwu, on behalf of the association, thanked the guest for honoring the invitation of the association and prayed God to lead them home safely.

The event had in attendance representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, National Orientation Agency, Ministry of women affairs, Anambra State Ministry of Transport, Special Education Unit of ministry of education, Community and Empowerment Network(COMEN), Legal Aid Council, State Bureau of Statistics, the chairman Aguata traditional ruling council, Ministry of Transport, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Anambra Broadcasting Service and Odenigbo FM, CSOs, the State co-ordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC)

TQM report,

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has moved for inclusive politics, appointed a person with disability among five female youths into it’s high level National lobby committee.

The youths nominated to the PDP lobby committee are as follows; Obianuju Kanu Ogoko as (Assistant Secretary) , Jiritmwa Goyit (Member), Vera Oghenon, Omolara Popoola and Amarachi Chukwuma (Person with Disability).

Other executive members of this high level lobby committee include: Haj. Mariya Waziri, the National Woman Leader of The Peoples Democratic Party, Hajiya Hadiza Umorun, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Hajiya Hawa Musa Kida, Barr. Mrs. Ime Udom, Sen. Betty Okagua Appiafi, Sen. Folashade Bent, CON , H.E.Dr. Erelu Obada, Mrs Esther Udehi,Amb. Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Hajiya Inna Ciroma and many other female stakeholders of the party.

This is in line with the thematic resolution to set up a National women’s lobby committee with a mandate to diplomatically engage with the party, to facilitate the implementation of the 35% affirmative action quotas as approved at the 88 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the PDP.

Ahead of 2023 electioneering year, there no doubting that PDP is working hard to position as the most youth and women friendly party in Nigeria by its recent pro youth and women reforms.