TQM report,

The President and founder, Global Initiative for Women with Polio – GIWP,  Mrs Chidiebere Mgbemena on Thursday 17th December, 2020, at Villa Garden Hotel Owerri lunched an awareness campaign against polio, as well as distribute wheelchairs, food materials and other life enhancing support to women affected with poliomyelitis.

The event, inaugural lunch/post-polio syndrome (PPS) awareness campaign had in attendance great number of women with polio challenges drawn from Imo rural communities. Its part of measures engineered by Mrs Mgbemena for the eradication of polio amongst women in Nigeria.

According to the chairman Global Initiative for Women with Polio, the awareness campaign is to educate polio survivors and care givers everything they need to know about post-polio syndrome (PPS). Which occurs many years after recovery from the initial infection.

Global Initiative for Women with Polio (GIWP) is a nonprofit organisation for women that are living with disability due to the aftermath of poliomyelitis. Its major activities are in the area of engaging the women through building skills, providing basic education and handling essential medical issues and awareness. GIWP seeks to empower the women affected with polio, making them independent by giving them access to fulfill their dreams and live an enjoyable normal life as Nigerians.

Speaking, Hon. Jones Onyereri, thanked the organizers for coming up with such an educating awareness campaign for our sisters suffering the deformity of polio and charged them to find a way on how to carry out such campaign on the males just as they have done today for the females.

Speaking further, he encouraged the participants not to be deterred in the pursuit of their dreams and career as the challenges can’t hinder them from achieving whatever dreams they have.

TQM report,

Charity James, the former National women leader on the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf and Abdulwasiu Mosurat Tililope, immediate past Women leader, Abuja Association of Deaf on Saturday in Abuja were honoured with Inclusive Champion Award by Abuja Association of the Deaf Women Wing in collaboration with AbilityPlus Initiative.

Charity James as ex national women leader was honoured because of her contribution to ensure that the women wing of Nigerian National Association of the Deaf is formidable and Mosurat was honoured for her contribution in ensuring that Abuja Deaf women are united and her continued advocacy for the rights of deaf women.

By Kenneth Alabaraonye, TQM correspondent

GLOBAL HOPE AND JUSTICE on 10th of December, 2020 in Abuja organized National Disability Summit to commemorate International Day of Persons with disabillities IDPWD 2020

The executive director GLOBAL HOPE AND JUSTICE in his opening speech called for a holistic inclusive approach to the plight and predicament of persons with disability in post covid-19 in Nigeria. He made this call in tandem with the year’s international day of persons with disabilities theme (Building back better towards a Disability inclusive, accessible and sustainable post covid-19 world). He further said that is a Clarion call to all policy makers on the need to bridge the gully gap of penury been created by covid-19 induced poverty ,pain and suffering to millions of persons with disabilities in Nigeria who as it stands today are periphery of the periphery, he said beyond the difficulties of the PWDs encounter as a result of the prevalent socio-political cum economic cataclysms, there seems to be in the opinion of many, total conscious and or unconscious neglect the concerns of PWDs especially in areas of economic inclusion and empowerment.

“Albeit, I must mention with a heart full of gracias the enactment of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) act 2018 by the current government and the most recent establishment of the national disability commission by Mr. President”.

This is the best gift of democracy given to about 31.7 millions of persons with disabilities in Nigeria since the creation of Nigeria as country and further described it as a promise kept.

Furthermore, he urged the newly created national disability commission ably lead by his friend and brother; Mr James Lalu to ensure that there is a sustained reorientation program aimed at changing this aged long mindset which is a product of socio-cultural beliefs and norms of our people, saying that to whom much is given much is expected and there’s no doubt in my mind that Mr. James Lalu and Hon. Dr. Hussain Kangiwa with his team as the chairman of the governing council of the commission will lay a solid foundation as the pioneer leaders of the commission upon which others will build. “Posterity will not be fair to you if you fail for whatever reason to use this golden opportunity given to you by Mr President to Carter for millions of persons with disabilities in Nigeria” he said.

As the national assembly is at verge of amending the 1999 constitution and the electoral act, he demanded that it should contain affirmative action on persons with disabilities from national and local government level.

Dr. Sam Amadi Ass. Professor Baze University,Former chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and chairman board of trustees The Albino Foundation in his speech at the public lecture of the occasion topic “BREAKING THE BARRIERS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA” urged the the government to help the newly established National Commission Disability Commission to operate without political influence and also begin to make public buildings, transportation systems, health sector accessible and education Inclusive with equal employment for people with disabilities in Nigeria.

Mr. Femi Ogunleye, the representive of Hon. Dr. Hussaini Kangiwa The Chairman National Disability Commission for persons with Disabilities who in his speech stated the commitment of The Chairman National Commission for persons with Disabilities to address all the challenges of persons with Disabilities in Nigeria and will support the executive secretary of the commission to achieve it’s mandate.

Other dignitaries at the event are Professor Mutiullah Olasupo, University of Abuja, Mr Ahmed M. Kaoje representing MD/CEO,FBMN, Comr. Mohammed Abba Isah Advocate for Disability Rights and Inclusive Development Yobe State and The special Adviser to the governor of sokoto state on Disability matters, Hon. Abdul-Azeez Ibrahim who received an award of excellence in service and commitment to Disability issues in his state on behalf of his excellency, Gov. Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

TQM reports,

Bukunmi Adejumo and Dongana Deborah, two sign language interpreters who have distinguished themselves in the services they render were honoured on Saturday by Abuja Association of the Deaf Women Wing in collaboration with AbilityPlus Initiative with Inclusive Champion Award.

Queen Janet Fasakin while presenting the award to Bukunmi Adejumo said that she has been selfless in discharging her duties as a sign language interpreter, she is always ready to answer and keep to appointment even at a very short notice even though she is a married woman. She is ready to sign for the deaf even when she would not get paid and she is humble, very respectful, carrying her duties with job and making sure that the deaf understand every bit of what is being said.

Abdulmumuni Ujah praised Bukumni for being diligent to her job and providing services to the deaf whenever they needed it. He called on other sign language interpreters to emulate the lifestyle of Bukunmi before sign language to a deaf is important and the sign language interpreter should be readily available to offer these services.

Dongana Deborah while receiving her award also received accolade from Queen Janet who described her as a patient person and a friend who at all times like Bukunmi maintain confidentiality of deaf persons and already to always offer services even at no cost. Ujah describe Deborah as a friend and a companion who is always ready to him sign language interpretation services even at odd hours.

“Whenever I call on her to interprete for me even very late in the night for a minute,she will make herself available, at times, I call her up to offer sign language interpretation service at a short notice, she will be there not minding the time of the day”.

He advised other Interpreters to cope these two for their examplary way of discharging their duties.

It was emotional for these sign language interpreters as the effort were honoured by deaf women. They never knew that their jobs which they are doing for the best of their knowledge are being seen and cherished by deaf women and deaf community in general.

TQM learnt that Deborah had a sister who is a deaf person and that is where she drives her passion and Bukumni develops her passion from her school days where she was trained a special educator.

TQM report,

The President of Network for Disabled Women and The Founder and CEO of Cedar Seed Foundation, Mrs. Lois Auta Udonkata on Saturday in Abuja received Inclusive Champion Award from Abuja Association of the Deaf Women in collaboration with AbilityPlus Initiative.

The award is in recognition of her contribution towards towards championing the cause of women with disabilities through her activities.

Lois Auta has been one of the few women with disabilities who have been building the capacity of other Women with disabilities through the activities of her organizations and through Network for Disabled Women which she founded, she have been bringing together women and girls with disabilities to expose them to opportunities.

The Executive Director of Disability Rights Advocacy Center ( DRAC) Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu was on Saturday honoured with an award of excellence titled Inclusive Champion Award by Abuja Association of the Deaf Women wing in collaboration AbilityPlus Initiative for her contribution to the promotion and protection of the rights women with disabilities.

Queen Janet Fasakin the leader of women wing of the Assooiation while introducing Dr. Irene and why she deserves the award said that Dr. Irene is Mama Inclusion because she is also carrying along every cluster of disability and she is so special to deaf women because any time, the issue of sexual abuse on any deaf woman, she would be there to follow the case to the later.

She also said that Dr. Irene has helped in no small measure to build the capacity of deaf women.

TQM congratulates Dr. Irene and DRAC for this well deserved award, it is an award to crown the DRAC team’s effort for a full year of hard work and so much achievements.

Nigeria’s first blind journalist, Mr. Gbenga Ogundare emerged winner in the Judiciary Reporting Category at the 29th Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

The 44-year-old, visually impaired Ogundare won with his story: “The Long Tortuous Road to Justice for Rape”, published by The Nation on Aug. 18, 2019.

Speaking to NAN, Ogundare, expressed joy at winning the DAME for a second time.

The journalist, who had been practising for 18 years, recalled how he emerged DAME’s Child-Friendly Reporter for the year 2016.

“I feel very excited; it is a lot of motivation for blind journalists like me to make impacts and not discouraged by their disability” he said.

Other categories and winners at the annual event held at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, include, Best designed magazine won by The Punch, Newspaper of the Year won by The Nation. Chief executive officer at Channels Television, Dr. John Momoh won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also, Mr. Bayo Akinloye of ThisDay newspaper, won the Agriculture Reporting Category sponsored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). His reportage: “From Cocoa to Cannabis: Nigerian Farmers Seek Fortunes Inside Forbidden Farms”, clinched him the coveted prize. The story was published by ThisDay on June 30, 2019.

Meanwhile, Mr. Niyi Adesina of the Nation emerged editor of the Year, while Mrs. Chioma Obinna of Vanguard won the Nutrition Reporting Category.

There were 14 award categories in the 29th edition as against 18 featured in the 28th edition.

DAME is organized annually by Diamond Publications Ltd., publishers of Media Review. The awards are meant to enhance professionalism and reward hard work in journalism.

DAME’s first outing was on March 20, 1992. Eight awards in print journalism were given to deserving professionals at that maiden edition.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and other matters Friday fixed January 8 to hear a petition by a man claiming to have suffered an amputated leg following shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of October 20.

Apart from police brutality complaints, the panel is also probing the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the toll gate on October 20.

The amputee’s lawyer, Mr. O.E. Bamgbola, identified the amputee as Lucky Philemon, adding that the “peaceful protester’s’ plight was in relation to the Lekki shooting.

Bamgbola said: “The petition relates to a peaceful protester who suffered gunshot injuries as a result of the shootings on the 20th of October in the Lekki axis, in consequence of which he became an amputee; his left leg was amputated.

“The petitioner is ready to commence his evidence, subject to the convenience of the panel.” But panel chairman, Judge emeritus Doris Okuwobi, did not grant the lawyer’s prayer.

She ruled that Philemon could not commence his evidence because his case was only listed for mention on the panel’s cause list.

Justice Okuwobi also noted that the panel needed to issue a summons on the Nigerian Army since the complaint was against them.

She, therefore, adjourned Philemon’s testimony till January 8.

Philemon’s petition is the first of several others against the Nigerian Army in relation to the October 2019 incident that has got a definite date.

The Army has repeatedly denied shooting at or killing any #EndSARS protester, contrary to the claims of several protesters.

The Lagos State Government says it is intensifying efforts to ensure that the public have access to accurate information on the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said this on Thursday in Lagos during the state Ministry of Health and Lafiya Project Media Professionals Training on COVID-19 Response.

The training has the theme: “Gender and Social Inclusion in COVID-19 Response: The Role of the Media’’

Abayomi, represented by the State Epidemiologist, Dr Ismail Abdul-Salam, said that the government would ensure that the public have access to accurate information on COVID-19 response.

“Within communities, we need to increase awareness and sensitisation through strategies that will mitigate the second wave of COVID-19.

“We need to correct misconceptions and myths circulating in communities. Some people in communities still believe that COVID-19 is not real, and that is really worrisome,” he said.

According to him, from mid October, the state has experienced a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

He said that the numbers of COVID-19 patients in intensive care and numbers of fatalities had also increased.

The commissioner said that as at Dec.16, 198,571 tests had been conducted in the state, 25, 128 confirmed cases and 23, 562 recoveries.

Abayomi advised the citizens to continue to observe proper wearing of face masks, regular hand washing and physical distancing to reduce their risk of COVID-19 infection.

Also, Dr Adefolarin Opawoye, Lead, Lagos COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), said that mask compliance was poor, with the citizens having pandemic fatigue.

Opawoye stressed that infection prevention and control measures remained key to battling the scourge of COVID-19.

According to him, the key principle of IPC remains physical distancing, wearing of masks and washing of hands.

Dr Oreoluwa Finnih, Senior Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, appealed to the media to move into action by telling compelling stories on COVID-19.

She advised that media content should go beyond reporting the daily COVID-19 infection figures to communicating the impact of COVID-19 on families, children, markets and the general society.

Ms Sussan Ihuoma, Assistant Secretary, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), said that it was important to include disability dimension in prevention, mitigation and monitoring plans related to COVID-19.

Ihuoma said that COVID-19 testing and isolation centres should be made accessible and facilities made available for people living with disabilities.

Also, Mr Ayo Adebusoye, Member, Steering Committee, Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LASCOP), noted that the training was to strengthen media on gender-sensitive and social inclusive reporting of COVID-19 issues.

Adebusoye advised that the media should ensure social inclusion by making sure that every demography of the society have a voice in their reporting. (NAN)

by Chris Agbo, Abuja correspondent.

Network of Disabled Women in collaboration with Foundation for Resilient Empowerment and Development (FRED) organized a one day strategic meeting with stakeholders and press conference on safeguarding the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

Mrs. Lois Auta Udonkata in her opening speech said that the essence of the meeting is to come up with action plans, strategies and solutions on how the issues of sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) of Women and Girls with disabilities (WGWDs) can be handled. Seeing inclusiveness in our hospitals, security agents’ facilities, media houses, all our infrastructures where issues of SRHR are being attended to.

She applauded Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) for launching a sign language glossary to enhance communication between deaf women and health workers and Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) for producing a handbook for SRHR for WGWDs and also creating a response centre for WGWDs on Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

Mrs. Lois Auta while speaking to the press, said that the meeting is supported by EU, US Spotlight Initiative project and it has two objectives; to identify barriers on the rights of WGWDs in Pandemics and map out functional strategies for safeguarding SRHR of WGWDs.

WGWDs experience grave challenges and barriers more than their male counterparts and also experience concerns that their peers without disabilities go through even in much higher dimension. This makes them faced with double discrimination. WGWDs, that are born into poor homes face with inappropriate sanitary condition which make their menstrual life traumatic. They are three times more likely to face physical violence, emotional violence, and sexual violence than women without disabilities. They are up to 10 times more likely to experience sexual violence.

She added that 40% to 60 % of them experience sexual violence before the age of 18 according to UNFPA Statistics. Lack of data has made it difficult to know the prevalent of violence against WGWDs, knowing cluster of disability that are more violated and who are the perpetrators and the geographical locations. WGWDs also experience neglect, abuse of all sorts in workplace, home and many other places.

Speaking further, she informed that during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, violence against WGWDs increased going by the cases reported, imagine cases that were not reported due to ignorant and neglect. WGWDs are facing multifaceted barriers and challenges and they are categorized as follows: State barrier which has to do with lack of state actors to initiate and implement inclusive health care policy and existing legislations and policies, Institutional/ health system barrier which is about lack of accessible infrastructure, communication and negative attitude, Individual level barrier is about illiterate population of disability and disability issues, low level of awareness and negative attitude, Community level barrier is about low level of awareness, societal harmful traditional, religious, cultural beliefs  and Economic barrier  is all about poor economic background and poor economic situation of WGWDs which makes it difficult for WGWDs to seek medical attention even when they know there is need to seek for such services.

She recommended the following:

1. Map out functional strategies in safeguarding SRHR of WGWDs; it is very essential in protecting SRHR of WGWDS.
2. Data Collection of Victims/Survivors of SGBV among WGWDs is very important
3. Female Desk officers should be appointed in Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Security Agencies etc.
4. Organization of Disabled Women should be funded and offer employment opportunities.
5.  There should be accessible communication method in an inclusive format
6. Capacity Building, employment opportunities should be created for victims and survivors of SGBV
7. National Policy on SRHR for WGWDs should be simplified in different languages for better understanding and speed up of the implementation of the policy
8. Healthcare services and other relevant services for WGWDs, Courts, Security Agencies, and reporting centres should be made affordable and accessible and inclusive.
9. Healthcare services providers should be frequently trained on the issues of SRHR of WGWDs
10. All response and prevention centre’s activities should be made disability inclusive and accessible.

“We want to categorically state that we are tired of being treated as second fiddle, in addition, we want everyone to know that the challenges of gender and disability are too much for WGWDs to handle, we are supposed to be the apple of an eye for the society, It is our prayer that after today, positive consideration should be given to WGWDs in Nigeria” she concluded.

Watch the video of the full Mrs. Lois Press conference:

The representative of UN Women UzoAmaka Asiegbu said that UN women have always supported that equal value be accorded to women including WGWDs and the rights of WGWDs are protected, UN women supports any programme that geared towards promoting the SRHR of WGWDs.

Olorunfemi Olusegun, Asst. National Secretary/ FCT Coordinator, Child Protection Network said that they are joining their voice to say No to any form of  abuse to any category of girls whether with disabilities or not. He called on Federal Government to implement the National Policy on Inclusive Education which makes it mandatory for all children irrespective of their status to learn in the same place and this will help numerous girls with disabilities to go to school at little or not. He called on Federal Ministry of Information and Culture or any other agencies saddled with the responsibility of disseminating these policies to the public to begin to do so because the public needs to be aware of these policies. He called on Legal Aid Council and Federation of Women Lawyers to give pro-bono services to WGWDs because they are being abused and their rights are violated but they have no money to go to court. He assured his organization’s commitment to work with other organizations interested in SGBV of WGWDs to ensure that they get justice. He said that they are advocating for representation of WGWDs especially in National Assembly, state assemblies and every other levels because if we have PWDs are in position of power, they will take lead for their issues rather than leaving it to those who do not understand what PWDs go through discussion their issue.

Watch the video of the Press statement of Olorunfemi Olusegun:

Hon. Abiodun Essiet, The special adviser to Abuja Municipal Area Council Chairman on ICT, Donor Agencies and Civil Society Matters as well as social welfare unit and she also the President of African Young Female Advisers Initiative speaking during press time said that it is important to advocate for different governmental agencies to have political will to create an enabling environment, aid data collection for WGWDs. She also said that her take home from this meeting is that they are going to have a sign language interpreter in any of their social welfare services offices to help WGWDs especially deaf women, enhance gathering data of WGWDs and also advise their primary health centres to be sensitive in the issues that affect WGWDs. She promised to engage the Honourable Chairman to ensure that these recommendations are considered in the next budget.

She also said that WGWDs have sexual feelings and they also have rights and their rights should be taken serious by first of all making the centres where they can access services inclusive and formulate programmes to ensure that their issues are properly mainstreamed, that is leaving no one behind as it is proposed by SDGs.  When all these are taking into cognizance, their confidence would be restored and they will enjoy their full rights.

Patience Ogolo Dickson, Founder, AWWDI said that the parents of the girls with disabilities owe them a lot to ensure that they get justice, what parents that love their girl child with disability will do when the child is violated, is to ensure that they get justice for the child.

Other speakers at the meeting were Juliet B. Agbor from FHi 360, Salma Abdulwaheed from Nigerian Women Trust Fund and others.

The event featured experience sharing by some women with disabilities on lack of access to SRH services in the hospital and inability to access justice for abuse due to unavailability of sign language interpretation in these places.

Hellen William, Program Technical Advisor in his closing remark thanked all the stakeholders who found time to grace the occasion and urge them to use all the knowledge they acquired from the meeting to advance SRHR of WGWDs because the barriers that have hindered them from accessing justice must be removed and disability inclusion in all health facilities and response centres should be advocated for and National SRHR of WGWDs must be implemented to the later.