On behalf of all people with disabilities in Southwest particularly Oyo state, we announced with regret the sudden death of one of our distinguished women leader in Nigeria disability community, Mrs Sarah Akinola, a blind woman of excellent.
She was one of our great women who contributed a lot to the growth of our much cherished Umbrella organization, JONAPWD. She was an advocate, human rights activist, public commentator on issues of disability, a TV presenter on NTA Ibadan via ” Beyond the bridge’ program of Barr Adekanmbi, an expert in preparing braille books for blind students and also making Braille questions for WAEC and JAMB and finally a good staff of Bank of Agriculture through which she facilitated loan facilities for some of our people.
Burial arrangement shall be announced soon by the family. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
Signed by Chairman BOT, Initiator/ Founder / Pioneer President of Jonapwd Prince (Dr) Paul Adelabu
“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken a way; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job. 1 v 21.
As I am writing this tribute, I am hearing her voice as she spoke during my last conversation with her, calling me Dave, chere kwanu – wait now.
In Esther, I saw a woman that craved for peace and happiness of other people. That’s how “Allied Matters” came into fore. A slogan used to relax calm anxious and angry nerves down during Situation Room meetings.
Esther lived a purpose driven life. Throughout my encounter with her, she committed herself in ensuring that vulnerable groups, in particular persons with disabilities are included in the narrative for a better Nigeria.
Esther Uzoma and David Anyaele during Edo Gubernatorial Election
As a friend of the media, in particular TV Stations, anytime they invite her for TV appearances during General or off circle election observations, she will always request the producer to mainstream disability issues, in fact she will request them to invite me to speak.
Esther was a royal. She happened to be one of the few knowledgeable ladies within the civic space, I have met, that are humble, calm, respectful, not puffed off, nor arrogant, not wanting to pull you down or humiliate you in private or public by reason of wealth, knowledge, or social status.
She was always available to assist no matter how small. She hardly exhibit imakwa ndi anyi wu – do you know me? attitude. That’s why she stood tall among her peers.
Esther was not a fake person. The last encounter I had with her was last December after the National Assembly Public Hearing on Electoral Act alterations. I had a health challenge at Transcorp Hilton Hotel the night we arrived. The next morning, I sent a message to a couple of members about my situation. It was only Esther that replied to me with “Chukwu nonyere gi” – God be with you. That experience was deep to me till this day.
Throughout her stay at the Situation room, Esther watched my back with firmness. As Esther is no more, I will be missing her comrade’s back up.
Esther reaffirmed my belief in doing good to all manner of people as much as I can; and to stand firm and strong in things I believed in.
While it is hard to say goodbye, I pray God to grant the families and loved ones, in particular members of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room the fortitude to accept what we cannot change.
It is well.
David Obinna Anyaele
Executive Director,
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
Dirkat Nimdap is a lady with physical disability who come for a family 21 children and the only one among them with disability. Her father is married to three wives.
She was not born with disability, she became a person with disability as a result of wrong injection. She hailed from Langtang North of Plateau state and attended Shishiri primary school and Government secondary school and later, Gani Development College for her secondary school education all here in Langtang.
Our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle engaged her in her home town Langtang North to talk about her struggles as a woman with disability.
TQM. Why did you not continue to your education to higher Institution?
I became pregnant and gave to a daughter, so my parents shifted their resources towards providing for my daughter.
Dirkat Nimdap and her daughter
TQM. What about the father of the your baby, is he not capable of providing for her?
He refuse to marry me and he is not providing for me or his daughter, he just don’t care about us.
TQM. Is he a person with disability?
No, he is not a person with disability, but person who took advantage of my disability.
TQM. Are you aware of the activities of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, a government establishment, that help to protect the rights of people with disability?
No.
TQM. Is you daughter schooling?
Yes.
TQM. Who is paying for her education?
Me, with the assistance of some of my siblings and some friends. She completed her secondary school last year, she is seventeen years. I also have two orphans, a girl and a boy, the children of my late brother that l am providing for and paying for their education, not because, l have the means to, but because somebody have to do it for them.
TQM. What work are you doing to provide for yourself and the children?
I make Dawa- Dawa (a local Maggi) and Kunu which l sell by the roadside. I also do some knitting and hair plating.
Dirkat Nimdap doing her business
TQM. Have you ever been assisted by government or private individuals to expand your business?
The one assistance l have received is from Daddy Jeremiah T. Usaini. He organized an empowerment program for fifty (50) people, and l was one of the beneficiaries. Apart from that, l have not received any other assistance.
TQM. The house you are staying, is it a family or rented house?
It is a family house.
TQM. Have you experience discrimination or abuse as a result of being a lady with disability?
No.
TQM. Before we go, what personal appeal will you like to make to the government and other persons?
l need assistance with the payment of the children’s education, for my daughter and the two orphans, the first orphan is in secondary school, while the other is still in primary school. l would appreciate any employment or some money to increase my business. If l can get all or some of these, l believe life would be better for me and the children.
TQM. Thank you and TQM is wishing you the best of luck.
Applicants and Workers with Disabilities under auspices of
Association of Applicants/ Workers with Disability in Nigeria on Tuesday in
Abuja blocked the entrance to Federal Character Commission in a protest to get
the attention of the Chairman of the Commission which they said that she has
ignored their several request to have audience with her.
The protest later got the attention of some directors of the commission who later came and pleaded with the group to delegate their leadership to meet with the representative of the commission.
The President of the group, Dr. Godstime Onyegbunam speaking at the meeting said that their grievances arise from several written request seeking to have audience with the Chairman of the commission which they received no replies and their members continue to suffer in their quest to secure employment.
He said that the organization have been in place before the enactment of Discrimination against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. He informed that they were using the 2 percent employment opportunity for persons with disabilities (PWDs) approved by General Babangida and graciously when the National Disability Act came on board in 2019 which stipulated 5percent employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the group started using it as their basis for advocating for the employment opportunities of their members.
Speaking further, he said that their reason for making effort to engage Federal Character Commission is because the commission regulates equitable distribution of employment opportunities across states in Federal government Ministries and Agencies. He plea that the commission send circulars to all MDAs to ensure that whenever they are recruiting, they must ensure that they implement at least the 5 percent employment opportunity for persons with disabilities.
He said that MDAs have been approaching PWDs in the issue of
employment as if they are doing PWDs a favour by employing them. He stated that
MDAs have been employing and they are not meeting the 5percent employment
opportunities.
“Most times, MDAs would be negotiating with us on the number of us that they can employ as senior staff and how many as junior staff instead of applying the 5percent employment opportunity for PWDs as it is stated by law, if an agencies is employing 300 persons, 2, 3 or 4 PWDs as they normally negotiate with us is not the five percent of the 300”.
The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Dr Farida Dankaka who was represented by the Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur in his response said that the commission has been friendly to persons with disabilities because before the enactment of disability act, the commission has long created a disability desk, engaging persons with disabilities to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities. He acknowledged that it is within their mandate to ensure the equitable distribution of employment opportunities among states and because of that, they have 37 commissioners representing each state of the 36 states including FCT. It is also within their mandate to ensure that 5 percent employment opportunity as it is enshrined in disability act is reflected in all recruitment exercise of the MDAs. He also said that they are already made effort to write a circular to all MDAs to ensure that they became aware and enforce the 5 percent employment opportunity for PWDs in all their recruitment.
He urged the group to always bring it to their notice any agency recruiting without compliance to the 5 percent employment opportunity for PWDs.
The commission promised to form a forum in collaboration with National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to engage MDAs regularly in order to ensure that they continually implement this very important section of National Disability Law.
TQM learnt that some agencies carry out recruitment without informing the Commission and again, they will not make it public and by so doing denying PWDs the 5 percent employment opportunities reserved for them.
Association of Applicants/ Workers with Disability in Nigeria have been at the forefront of advocating for 5 percent employment opportunity for PWDs, they have recorded some success stories by helping a good number of their members secure employment in MDAs but whether they have gotten any MDA to implement the 5 percent employment opportunity is yet to be seen. They are intensifying their effort, that’s why they are engaging Federal Character Commission to help enforce the law so that a greater number of their members will gain employment.
To advance the message of disability inclusion across the nation, Project Enable Africa, in partnership with the United States Consulate, held a virtual panel discussion in commemoration of the second anniversary of the disability rights law.
The law was passed in 2019 as a legal framework that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The virtual panel discussion tagged “the role of the media in shaping a disability-inclusive culture, was attended by media experts and other relevant stakeholders.
The deliberations touched on strategic ways to better report disability issues in the mainstream media, hence creating a culture of inclusion and diversity.
“The goal of the discussion is to increase awareness, sensitization and also urge media practitioners, who shape national discourse and culture, on the need to creatively and strategically use the media towards a more inclusive society”, says Olusola Owonikoko, the Project Director of Project Enable Africa.
Claire Pierangelo, the United States consul general, in her remarks, applauded Project Enable for such a laudable approach towards enhancing disability inclusion, she further encouraged journalists to be inclusive in their ideas.
According to her, “one of the priorities of the US Consulate is to support human right and create economic opportunities for persons with disabilities.”
Further in her keynote address, the US consul general emphasized that “Persons with disabilities shouldn’t be treated with pity but be treated with a sense of resilience and accomplishment by promoting awareness and proper understanding of disability issues.”
Fielding questions during the panel discussion, one of the panelists, a veteran development and communications expert, Akin Jimoh, encouraged journalists to celebrate PWDs and also journal the challenges they face on a daily basis
Victor Oteri, an on-air personality with Lagos Traffic radio, who was also on the panel, lamented that disability matters receive little or no attention from journalists in Nigeria due to the lack of understanding of issues surrounding PWDs.
“It’s high time the media stopped focusing only on the personality of persons with disabilities, we need to discuss the crucial things that affect them”, Victor reiterated.
Another panelists, Miss Folashade Salimonu, Programs Manager Lagos Television, encouraged journalists to relate more with PWDs, and that will require putting oneself in their shoes as this will reflect in the quality of stories.
Miss Salimonu also highlighted the importance of using the right words when reporting disability matters, stating that some words can be offensive.
The General Manager, Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs, Dare Dairo, in his keynote remark assured that the agency remains resolute in its approach towards advancing the rights of PWDs in Lagos. He asked for the continued support of the media in reshaping the disability narrative.
“The media acts as a watchdog, we must increase awareness and put the perspective of persons with disabilities on national issues; be it sports and politics or health” Dairo explained.
While there has been so much emphasis on free and compulsory primary/secondary education for all, limited attention has been paid to the educational needs of persons with intellectual disability. One of the challenges facing persons with disability in Nigeria is access to qualitative education. Unfortunately, in most of the states in Nigeria, there are no formal structures to address the educational needs of disabled children especially those with intellectual disability.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has clearly outlined the duties and responsibilities of states. Under Article 24(1) of the convention, states are enjoined to:
“….recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, State parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to:The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential;Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society”
Nigeria signed this Convention on May 30, 2007 and ratified it on 24th of September 24, 2010. Thus, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian state to provide inclusive education for its citizens living with intellectual disability in order to guarantee their fullest development and effective participation in the society.
Article 24(2) further enjoined States parties to ensure that: “Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education or from secondary education, on the basis of disability;Persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live;Reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements is provided;Persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education;Effective individualized support measures are provided in environments that maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion.
Inclusive education stands for education that includes everyone, both persons without disability and differently abled people. It is a model of education that embraces those with special educational needs, getting them to learn together in mainstream schools or other places of learning. The key factor here is togetherness. Thus, inclusive education contemplates a class equipped to teach both the child with special or additional needs and the regular child within the same classroom.
It is commendable that Lagos State is making efforts to ensure inclusive education for its residents with various disabilities especially those with intellectual disability. However, an examination of the situation shows that there is still a lot to be done. The inclusive education model still falls short of the expected United Nations and international standard.
The Lagos State model only allows the students with intellectual disability attend different school but within the same premises with the regular learners. There is no adequate provision of the necessary special learning tools directly benefiting persons with intellectual disability to ensure and encourage effective learning for them. This is far from the contemplation and the spirit of the United Nation Convention On disabilities and the protocols. A lot of work still needs to be done to make the educational system really inclusive and ensure that children with intellectual disability can access full and quality education on an equal basis with others in their communities.
Ijeoma Fynecontry is the legal resource person with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria.
20-year-old physically challenged woman, Opeyemi Olatoke, locked up in a house by her parents for five years, has been rescued by Osun State government.
The father of the girl, Prophet Samson Olatoke, founder of C & S, Ileri Ayo parish in Ikirun, said the lady was locked up due to her health issues.
The state Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Bukola Olaboopo, said the ministry busted the building based on a tip-off from a Non-Governmental Organisation in the state.
A statement by the commissioner’s media aide, Oyedele Kehinde, said the father of the girl, Prophet Olatoke, disclosed that they decided to lock her up due to her health issue, while her mother explained: “I did not give birth to Opeyemi with a disability, it all started when she was four years old, that day she shouted from her sleep and that was how she became lame.”
“The wicked act was reported at the Ministry of Women, Children and Affairs, by an NGO, Value Female Network, in the state and the ministry swiftly swung into action to rescue the victim. As I speak, the lady who is emaciated has been taken for medical attention and the bills would be footed by the state government.
“The state government is determined to protect the vulnerable and the less privileged. I urge parents to take good care of their children and anyone found maltreating their wards will be dealt with according to the laws of the state.”
She added that Opeyemi’s father and brother have been arrested by the police for further investigation.
Regina Joseph is a lady with visual impairment, a mother of a five years son, she come from a family of five children, three males and two females. When she was thirteen years, she started having problem with her eyes when she was in Lagos, her father was in the Nigerian army and she was then in primary school, her parents took her to several health care units, but could not get the desired result.
In this interview with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, she revealed her struggles in life as a person with visual impairment.
TQM. What happened when the doctors could not help you regain your sight?
I stayed at home for sometime, after relocating from Lagos to my home town Langtang, in Langtang North in Plateau state. I later went to school for the blind children Gindiri, but could not completed it, because, my mother who was paying for my education got sick and died later. After some years, l went to Government Vocational Training Center for the Blind zawan, which l completed only with financial assistance from Langtang North Local Government.
TQM. What about your father, could he not afford to pay for your education?
He also later died, after the death of our mother.
TQM. Are you married?
No, l am not married, l got pregnant and gave birth to my son, in what to me was a romantic relationship with a man who is a person without disability, when l got pregnant, he ended the relationship.
TQM. But is he proving for the up keep of the child?
Each time l approach him for that, he always pick up fight with me.
TQM. Is the child schooling?
Yes, l put him in public school, because, l cannot afford to sent him to a private school.
TQM. What are you doing for a living?
I am not doing much for now, l used to sell mango fruits and even before that, l was frying Chin-chin and kunu for sale, but l now lack money to continue these business
TQM. Don’t you have assistance from your siblings and other relations?
Things are hard, a lot of us are just trying to survived.
TQM. Are you staying in a family house?
I rented room.
TQM. Who is paying for the rent?
I am.
TQM. In your business, have you gotten any assistance from some where, in form of loan or grants?
No, l have written so many applications for that , but l have not gotten anything.
TQM. Have you been discriminated in your family or society, because of your disability?
In my family, l have not been discriminated, but outside my immediate family, l have.
TQM. In what ways?
Because l cannot see, people come into my room and steal things like grains flour, maggi and even money. There was a time someone gave me #200.00 to prepare food for myself and my son, l kept the money under my pillow, someone came and took the #200.00 and in its place Kept #20.00 for me.
One of my relations, break my box inside my room, and steal my savings of #9,550.00. The savings was from the profit l was making in the selling of mango fruits over time, l met him coming out of my room, l hold him to give me back my money, but instead, he beat me to the point of leaving scars on me. I reported him to the head of the family, but he told me to report the relation to our village head, l did, but the village head said he is tired of the man, so l reported to the police station, at the police station, he (the relation), said he have spent the money but he will pay back after a certain job, but when he got his wages from the job, he run away from Langtang North, l am now hearing, that he is in port Harcourt in Rivers State. That was how l lost my large savings of a very long time.
TQM. Do you know of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, an Institution that help to protect the rights of persons with disabilities?
No.
TQM. What is you personal request to the government and other individuals in the community, in terms of coming to your assistance?
They should come to my assistance by giving my son scholarship and give me employment or some money to continue my business.
TQM. Thank you Regina for sharing your story with us.
Nanwor Auta is married woman with blindness from Langtang North local government of Plateau State. She is from a family of sixteen children and the only one with any form of disability, her father married two wives. She became a person with disability when she was in her early teenage years as a result of circumstances which cannot be medically be ascertained.
In a chat with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, she spoke about her family, education and discriminatory practices against her.
TQM. Were you able to have formal education?
Yes, l attended School for the blind children Gindiri and later Government Secondary School Bolbong, l also went Government Vocational Training Center for the blind zawan, in Mangu and Jos south local governments respectively.
TQM. Who paid for your education?
My mother, my father abandoned our mother and the eight of us her children.
TQM. What are you doing for a living as a wife and a mother?
For now, l am not doing anything.
TQM. You said you attended a vocational training center, why are you not putting into practice the skills you have learned there?
I want to, but l lack finance to buy materials to do some of the products l was taught.
TQM. What are some if the things you were taught at the center?
I learned how to make foot – mat, weaving of baskets, tools and chairs, round and square carpets as well as knitting.
TQM. Is your husband a person with disability?
Yes, he is a visual impaired person.
TQM. Is he working?
He works with the local government, but he have been sick for some years now , he had a stroke.
TQM. Is your daughter schooling?
Yes, she is in JSS 2.
TQM. Who is paying for her school fees?
My husband.
TQM. The house you are in, is it a rented place or it is your own?
It is our house .
TQM. Have you experience any form of discrimination in you family or in your community because of your disability?
My neighbors are abusing and discriminating against us (me and my daughter) because of my disability, knowing that, l don’t have the strength to fight them back. For example, when l go to fetch water, they usually will find a way of fetching before me, even though, l was there before them.
TQM. What do you do in such a situation?
I usually do nothing, even if l do, l don’t get the desired result, For example, a certain girl came and met me and my daughter fetching water, she removed our bucket and positioned her own, her reason is we are not fast. I asked her ,why is she behaving in that manner? she insulted me and l reported her to our pastors wife but she was still stubborn, l then reported the matter to a Civil Defence Office, the girl’s father pleaded, that should be allowed to go home and settled and that how the issue ended, without any steps taken to correct the girl’s negative behavior towards me.
TQM. Are you aware of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, an Institution that is established to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities?
No. I don’t know anything about them.
TQM. Lastly, what do you have as a personal request to the government and other members of the society?
The government should come to my assistance by given my daughter a scholarship, especially now that my husband have been sick and a good percentage of his salary is being channeled towards payment of his medical bills, and l should be help with employment or some money to start the business of selling soup ingredients as well as making of foot mats and carpets.
TQM. Thank you Madam, we wish you the best of luck.
Kano State has recorded 118 new cases of leprosy -an infectious disease caused by a bacillus mycobacterium leprae, which affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
Endemic Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as river blindness has also been found in 18 local government areas, trachoma in 10 councils, while bilharziasis/schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthes are endemic across the 44 councils of Kano state.
Commissioner for Health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, announced this at a press conference marking the commemoration of 2021 World Leprosy and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
He, however, said no death was reported from leprosy throughout last year, adding that the 118 affected persons have been enrolled for treatment in government facilities.
Tsanyawa said a total of 202,189 new leprosy cases were detected globally, while the African region detected a total of 20,209 new cases, of which Nigeria has the highest number with 2,424 leprosy cases, constituting 1.2 percent and 10th position of the global figures.
He added that the country currently occupies 4th position of the 20 high leprosy burden in Africa.
According to the Health Commissioner, the theme for the 2021 World Leprosy Day is: ‘Beat Leprosy, End Stigma,’ while the theme for the 2021 World NTDs Day is: “Face NTDs, End the Neglect.”
Tsanyawa hailed the Ganduje administration for its significant efforts in reducing the burden, socioeconomic impact and transmission of leprosy and NTDs in addition to health promotion and rehabilitation of persons affected.
He disclosed that 526 leprosy patients among 4,734 poorest individuals with disabilities have been enrolled to access free healthcare services under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund through Kano state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA).
On river blindness, he said the administration treats over 910,000 people annually against river blindness in 18 endemic local government areas of the state, using Mass Administration of Medicine (MAM).
