Alh., Engr. Hassan Alao U. on Friday donated mobility aids to members of National Association of Persons with Physical Disability (NAPWPD) Osun Chapter.
The gesture was one of the ways he celebrated his 54th birthday.
Some of the items he presented were wheelchairs, Armpit Crutches, Elbow Crutches, Standing Frames and Walking Sticks including Guide canes for the blind which means that the gesture was extended to the Blind Community.
The Chairman of NAPWPD Osun State Chapter, Alh. Tadese Ismail while appreciating Alh Hassan prayed that God should bless and reward Alh Hassan for all his kindness.
Disability Rights Advocacy Center DRAC in the last week has made effort to provide safety environment within some inclusive schools in the FCT. To help keep the students during this pandemic, the organization provide 7 wash hand points in some inclusive school.
*To keep them safe during this pandemic, we are proud to establish wash points in 7 special/inclusive schools where we work in the FCT.”
DRAC has always prioritized the safety of learners especially those with disabilities within their school environment.
In similar vein, DRAC as part of community based work supported their community stakeholders to stay healthy during this pandemic.
As they are creating wash hand points, they are also distributing personal protective and hygiene packs to the beneficiaries in schools and stakeholders in the communities.
The organization have establish wash hand points in 20 communities in the FCT where we work.
This outreach is being supported from FCDO through CBM UK.
Nanchang Gambo is a single person with blindness from Langtang North Local of Plateau State. He is from the family of eight children, five males and three females. He is an active member of the Boys Brigade. He became a visual impaired person after he have started my primary school.
In this chat with our correspondents Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they visited Langtang North as part of our Oxfam Voice Project in Plateau State, he talked about his education, struggles and his Boys Brigade membership.
TQM. After you became blind, were you able to continue with your education?
Yes, l went to School for the Blind Children, Gindiri for my primary school, after completion, l went to Faith Tabernacle College, Jarawan Kogi in Jos East for my secondary education. I also was privileged to be in two Vocational centers for training, The Government Vocational Training Center for the Blind Zawan and a Vocational Training Center Oshodi, Lagos State. I could not go to higher Institution of learning because of financial limitation.
TQM. Who paid for the schools you attended?
My father did, but after his death, his brother, chief Daniel Ibrahim Dur, continued from where he stopped.
TQM. What are you doing, now for a living, after you completed your school and vocational training?
I was engaged in making carpets and chairs, but l run out of money, due to high cost of raw materials used in production.
TQM. Government have put programs to provide loans and grants to small scales producers, have you benefited from such programs?
No. I applied for it, but up to now, l have not gotten it.
TQM. As a person with disability, do you face discrimination, either from your family or outside your family?
At home, l don’t face discrimination, but in the society, people do that, especially when it comes to romantic relationship.
TQM. You earlier introduced yourself as a member of Boys Brigade. And You are a person with visual disability, how do you fit in?
I fit in just fine and very well, by the grace of God, l am not only a member of the Boys Brigade, but l am the Captain of 32 company of Langtang North and also the Vice Chairman, Boys Brigade Langtang North Battalion Council. And l have been carrying out my assigned functions very well. People with disabilities have the capacity to fit into any societal functions very well. There is no limited to what we can do. “There is ability, in disability.”
TQM. What would be your personal call for assistance to the government and other persons in the society?
The government or any person should help me with scholarship so that, l can go to higher Institution of learning, and l need capital, so that l can continue with my carpets and chairs business.
TQM. Thank you, captain of the Boys Brigade, Nanchang for sharing your time and story with us.
The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Friday visited the school of special needs where he joined students with disabilities to cut his 61st birthday cake. He reiterated his attachment and passion to cater for underserved communities.
The governor also commissioned a N5 million worth of teaching aids for the students with disabilities, and pledged to continue to identify with and give them equal opportunity to succeed, as well as restore the lost glory of the education sector in the state.
The teaching aids include modern books and braille computers.
These complement the solar energy and the recently renovated ICT centre for the school.
“This was the first point of call when our administration came in. There is always the need to remember those with special needs. I like to always identify with them.
“We had our first budget sitting here. We also used today’s visit to commission some projects. We have finished their computer laboratory to assist those having difficulty in hearing. We have supported the school with a solar light system for the whole school,” he told reporters.
“We just commissioned the teaching aids like braille and other materials to improve students’ learning. We thank members of the public and non-governmental bodies that have contributed to improve the facilities in the school.
“We appeal to our people to continue to support the school and other schools like this. We will always have to ensure that the standards of the students are improved.”
He urged parents not to despise children with any form of disabilities, as they could also attain their full potentials if properly supported.
“Any child you have is a blessing from God. Places like this are to cater for them and give them the right chance to excel and contribute their quota to society. Schools like this are in all the states in Nigeria.
“Even the federal government intervenes in schools like this through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“There is also a department in the Federal Ministry of Education that caters for this type of students in which we are engaging to get the right assistance for the school,” AbdulRazaq said.
The Principal of the school, Hajia Fausat Aroyehun, lauded the uncommon support the school enjoys from AbdulRazaq’s administration and his fatherly love for the children.
“We appreciate your genuine concern for the welfare and development of our school children, and the love that prompted you to make this school your second office.
“Today, you have also come to open another chapter in the life history of this school by commissioning the teaching aids bought by this government,” she said.
Aroyehun requested AbdulRazaq to provide the school with a coaster bus, more hostels and laboratories for science teachings among other needs.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said the government procured the items to fulfill its plan to make quality learning accessible to the students.
She thanked AbdulRazaq for his efforts to transform the education sector and assured the school that her ministry will not relent in its statutory duty of ensuring that the equipment are put to good use.
Can someone please explain why an option for Disability is not included in the APC Membership Registration Form but yet we have Representatives at various levels?
That is the question asked by Comrade Offiong Okon, Protem Secretary, States Special (Physically Challenged) Leaders’ Forum, All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria.
“This is a clear summary and outcome of the improvident tendencies of our Leaderships at various levels. Or should I say that our greed and egocentric tendencies on NGOs and NCPWD affairs neglecting the base that would be a determining factor for our future political emancipation” he added.
The APC registration form
He said that he is compelled and bold to submit that Leadership at all levels of persons with disabilities have completely failed if the forthcoming NATIONWIDE MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION/ REVALIDATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS is carried out without an option for PWDs especially now that PMB is on authority then we should forget about agitating for political inclusion for Nothing for Us without Us.
“We should place this at the back of our mind politics is a game of interest and as well NUMBERS. The failure for the non-inclusion of an option for PwDs is deliberate attempt to deny us data to determine our membership strength” he suggested.
He called on our National Leader/ES, Executive Chairman of NCPWD and Alhaji Issa Abba, SA on Disability Matters to Yobe State Governor who is the National Chairman of our dear Party to rise up and act accordingly.
Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has tasked security agencies to increase training for security personnel on how to engage with Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The Executive Director, Grace Jerry, during an advocacy visit to the Acting Commandment-General of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) requested an increase in prioritizing of PWDs matters by security agencies on electoral matters and in other areas.
She further called on corps to provide security for PWDs in the planned Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) so as not to disenfranchise them in the forthcoming Anambra elections.
She said Security agencies should continue to engage and consult with the disability community, including IFA, to identify areas to be improved for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes.
While comparing findings from IFAs previous research which is contained in a report called ‘’Breaking the Barriers” and the Ondo Elections, Grace observed that there have been improvements in the activities of security personnel.
“In the run up to the September 19th and October 10th, 2020 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, IFA engaged with your agency on the 4th of September 2020.
“The engagements with your agency involved placing on the recommendations from IFAs previous research which is contained in a report called ‘’Breaking the Barriers “and placed some demands concerning the changes IFA envisaged during the conduct of both elections.
“Some of these improvements are: Security personnel aided a PWD-friendly election procedure, especially around priority voting which aided participation of visible disabilities to vote upon immediate arrival at the polling.
There was increased synergy between the commission and the security agencies,” she said.
Association of applicants/workers with Disability in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja blocked the entrance of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development and demanded five percent of their recruitment.
The group was lead by their President, Dr. Godstime Onyegbunam and they are applicants and workers with disabilities who came from different states.
You will recall that section 29 of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 stated that all employers of labour in public organizations shall, as much as possible, have persons with disabilities constituting at least 5% of their employment.
For the first time ever Bamanankan, a language widely spoken in Mali, has been translated into braille.
Bamanankan is spoken by about 80% of the population of Mali, approximately 15 million people. But despite being widely used, it has never before been translated into braille for people who are blind or severely visually impaired.
Six teachers who are blind have tested and validated the new Bamanankan code. Children who are blind, severely visually impaired, or have progressive eye conditions will now learn the new code and receive associated braille materials, enabling them to access the same educational materials as their peers. The adaptation will also allow these children to be enrolled directly in schools in their community where education is provided in Bamanankan.
The landmark project was spearheaded by linguistic expert, Dr Issiaka Ballo, assistant professor at Université des Lettres et des Sciences in Bamako, and Dr Diallo, a braille specialist at UMAV, as part of an inclusive education programme for primary school students with visual impairments. This was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Sightsavers, a UK-based international NGO.
Laurène Leclercq, Global Technical Lead for education at Sightsavers, said, “It is very rare to see local languages translated to braille, but it makes a huge difference to ensuring that children are included in education and that people have access to their own culture and expression. We are incredibly proud of this work and plan to continue working with partners to make education in Mali accessible to all.”
As a result of Bamanankan being translated into braille, children with visual impairments can now take part in educational milestones from which they were previously excluded. The first focus will be on adapting the national early grade reading assessments (EGRA) into Bamanankan braille. This will mean these children can sit the same reading test as their peers. Once the children have sat the test, their teachers will be able to analyse their test results in order to identify their literacy needs and develop strategies to meet these needs.
Dr Ballo explained, “The first impact I saw from the teachers and students is their rapid ability to write Bamanankan in braille. The second is the students would keep on saying that they discovered now that it is possible to write in their own language with braille.”
At present, over 500 students who are blind or severely visually impaired are enrolled in special schools in three of Mali’s main cities. In the future, an increasing number of these children will be educated in mainstream schools. It is hoped that the translation will lead to many more texts being transcribed into braille and made available for these children. The government has provided funds to support this process.
The work was a joint initiative involving the Université des Lettres et des Sciences in Bamako, the University of Birmingham in the UK, the Malian Union for the Blind, and Mali’s Ministry of Education. It was commissioned in 2017 as part of a USAID funded inclusive education project for primary school children with visual impairments in Mali. This project has strengthened education in the country by providing training for over 300 teachers, school administrators and ministry officials in inclusive education so that they can help visually impaired students. It has also provided educational resources to 212 children with visual impairment in four regions of Mali and developed a teacher’s guide on pan disabilities.
Over the next two years, Sightsavers will build on the project’s achievements by adapting the EGRA for children with hearing impairments and ensuring the national mathematics test is accessible for children with visual and hearing impairments. This work will be independently funded by Sightsavers.
Remikat Nimzing is a woman with physical disability, a mother of five children, from Langtang North local government of plateau state. I became a person with disability when she was a child.
She shared with our team of correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they visited Langtang North Local Government Area as part of our Connecting our voices to The World Project supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria, about her family, life struggles and some of the interesting issues about her.
TQM. Are you married?
I was married, but I got separated with my husband because of his abusive attitude towards me.
TQM. In Who’s house are you now staying?
I am staying in my parent’s house, me and my children.
TQM. Why are the children with you and not with their father?
Because, their father does not care or provide for them.
TQM. Are the children schooling?
For now, they are not schooling because there is no one to pay for their education. They have tried and paid for their own education up to secondary School, and now they are engaged in labouring work to provide for themselves and for me as well. One of them could not make it beyond primary school.
TQM. What work are you doing for a living?
I sell soup ingredients and l also do some knitting.
TQM. Have you ever received any assistance from the government or organizations to increase your business?
No.
TQM. Why are you crawling, don’t you have wheelchair or tricycle?
I have a tricycle, it need repairs, but l do not have money to repair it, that is why I am crawling.
TQM. What is your experience with regards to discrimination because of your disability, either at home or outside home?
I am being discriminated against especially, when l was younger, but the older l became the less the discrimination.
TQM. How do you response in such situation?
I used to get so furious, but l am now taking things easy on myself and on the people. When you get angry, you give some people, the joy of hurting you, l don’t want to give any body the joy of hurting me especially because of my disability.
TQM. Do you know about, an Institution that the government have established to help protect the rights of people with disabilities call. The Plateau State Disability Rights Commission?
No.
TQM. Lastly, What is your appeal for help to the government or organizations in the society?
The government should come to my aid with money to increase my business, my tricycle should be repaired for my easy and hygienic movement and lastly, but not the least, some of my children, that would want to continue with their education, should be assisted with scholarship.
Jummai Dande is a single lady with blindness, she from a family of seven children, the only female among six male children of her late parents and the only one with disability. She joined the community of persons with disabilities at the age of fifteen years as a result of a knife of accident, after she completed her primary school but was yet to start secondary school, when the incident happened. She is from Rimi village in langtang North local government of plateau state.
She had a chat with our team, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they visited Langtang North as part of our ongoing project being sponsored by Oxfam Voice and she spoke about her challenges as a blind lady.
TQM. How did your disability actually happened?
A family pig got badly entangled with rope, l took a knife to cut the rope, in an attempt to free the pig, while l was struggling and the pig was equally struggling, some how the knife hit my eyes and l later became blind as a result that, even after several treatment in the hospital, I could not see again.
TQM. Mentioned that, your parents are late, who is providing for you?
One of my elder brothers is the one who have been providing for me, and he have been sick for the pass seventeen years now.
TQM. Were you able to continue with your education after you became blind?
I changed school, because, l cannot continue in the regular school without orientation, so l went to school for the blind children Gindiri, in Mangu local government plateau state. And repeated my primary school there. I completed in 2017. But could not go further because my brother who have been providing and paying for my education have been sick and he has ran out of resources as a result of medical bills and other domestic responsibilities like feeding.
TQM. Are you doing anything, like trading or any hand work to get little money?
No, l am in a very small community with separate houses, with very little opportunity beside, l don’t even have money or training to do any thing.
TQM. Have you received any assistance either from the government or organization before?
No, l have not.
TQM. What would you like to appeal for, from the government, individuals or organization?
I really would like to be educated and be trained in skills. l am therefore appealing to the government and other person to come to my assistance with a scholarship, so that, l would have education and vocational training, may be through that, God would bless me and make my life better. I am thankful to you, as l await your assistance.
