TQM report,

JKS orphanage Home for Children with Special Needs and Autism Center on Sunday in Kubwa, Abuja organized the end of the year party and meet and greet Santa.

The event which brought together parents and friends of the center featured award presentation to some performing teachers and caregivers, fashion parade, and dance competition.

There was a lot of goodwill message from parents and friends appreciate the proprietor of the center, Nifemi Adams for patience and steadfastness in taking children with intellectual disabilities, they urged people to show compassion to children of nature and channel resources towards assisting centers like this because it is not easy to manage children with intellectual disabilities, it is expensive and tasking.

The event also witnessed meeting of the Santa by the children present and receiving of gift from the Santa.

Some pictures of the event:

By Chris Agbo,

One of the leading disability organizations focusing on the rights of women and girls with disabilities, Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) on Thursday in Abuja made history by launching a handbook that will serve as a guide for women with girls with disabilities to understand their body and their rights.

The event which was her 4th Annual We Are Women Too Convening which also featured a discussion session known as The Parliament (airing SGBV issues of WGWDs), a platform that provided opportunities for SGBV survivors and other participants at the event to engage with Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) service providers on the challenges faced in accessing SGBV services – how to report the cases of violation and where to report the cases and what to do to access justice.

The event is part of DRAC’s Making it Work project supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria designed to enhance access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights(SRHR) of women and girls with disabilities.

The Executive Director, DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu while answering questions from the press said that the essence of the event is to discuss challenges affecting women and girls with disabilities in order to find solutions on how to address them. DRAC has been engaging with the service providers and the government to review relevant laws in order to make them more disability-inclusive and ensure that implementation is done using a disability lens.

Speaking further, she said that policies and laws are not disability inclusive either from the language used in drafting them which did not take into consideration the peculiar needs of persons with disabilities. In order to ensure disability inclusion, persons with disabilities should be consulted to make input during policy development.

She also said that DRAC is focusing on sexual and gender-based violence as it affects women and girls with disabilities, exploring the exclusion of women and girls with disabilities when it comes to programming in that area.

She emphasized that the government should invest a lot of resources into services that are necessary for people who have survived any form of sexual and gender-based violence. There should be more sexual assault referral centers, where people who have experienced sexual assault can go in and receive necessary services.

A keynote address was delivered by Dr. Toyin Adeyemi, a disability advisor, United Nations Relief and Works Agency. In her address, she spoke about how women and girls with disabilities face multiple discrimination. In Nigeria and Africa, a woman face a lot of discrimination and for a person with disability, it is double discrimination. This has made women and girls with disabilities more vulnerable to sexual and gender based violence. They are disadvantaged economically and services are not readily accessible making to them it difficult for them to report cases of violence against them. Even when they report, they face attitudinal barriers from service providers who don’t believe them or take their cases seriously. These are some of the reasons women and girls with disabilities often times are not able to access justice.

The highpoint of the event was the launching of the handbook on sexual reproductive health rights of women and girls with disabilities which was unveiled by Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, a director at the National Commission for Persons with disabilities who represented the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. James Lalu at the event. The Executive Director of DRAC, Dr. Irene Patrick-Ogbogu describe the handbook as a guide and resource of information for women and girls with disabilities to understand their body function and their rights when it comes to SRHR.

Mr. Lawrence Idemudia while endorsing the handbook appreciated DRAC for the good work they are doing for persons with disabilities especially women and girls with disabilities. He said that the commission would always collaborate with DRAC in driving disability issues and he also assured that the commission doors are open for other Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) with good ideas.

“Our doors are open, come and share your beautiful ideas with us, we will surely work with you”, Mr. Lawrence explained.

Grace Nsot, Director, International Operation, Legal Aid Council in her solidarity message to DRAC said that disability rights are human rights and their rights needs to be protected. There is a need for the rights of women and girls to be protected but Legal Aid Council can’t sue on your behalf because the specific mandate of Legal Aid Council is to provide free legal services for indigent Nigerians who are in conflict with the law. “So, we are informed about your case, we will monitor the case, provide free legal services for you when necessary”.

CSP Funmi B. Kolawole, O/C Gender SCID, FCT Command, Abuja representing FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma assured that Nigerian Police is ready to eradicate sexual based violence in Nigeria, any case reported to police, the police will ensure that the perpetrator is brought to book. She pleaded the victims should break the silence because the police are not in cooperative with the perpetrators because “it is a violation of fundamental human rights and whether you are a person with disability or a person without disability, we have the same rights and justice, please ensure that you report any act of violence and the police will ensure that you get justice”.

Many other MDAs, CSOs and OPDs also gave their solidarity messages to DRAC and made commitments towards the fight against SGBV of Women and girls with disabilities.

The event also featured a presentation by Barr. Tsema Okoye on the impact of SGBV on survivors with disability, mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attempted suicide.

Another highpoint of the event was the Parliament where the survivors and other participants had the opportunity to ask questions to the SGBV service providers and CSOs /experts working on SGBV. The session was moderated by an expert in SRHR, Bukky Williams, the Executive Director, EVA.

Some of the key concerns of the survivors and other participants were; at what point does it establish that rape has occurred, what are the services available for the survivors, how to report and where to report, what to do to ensure that evidence is not lost and when there is loss of evidence, can a case of SGBV still be established, what category of law do SGBV belong and many others.

The Service Providers and the experts provided some insights to the questions, they explained that rape is established when consent is not given, they gave out some contact numbers that victims can reach to access services, they also educated participants on the need for preservation of evidence while a report is being made to the police, they established that SGBV is a state case and even if the survivor fails to charge the perpetrator, the state can take up the case and the perpetrator is punished. They also said that the VAPP Act 2015 should be an important legal instrument that WGWDs should use against those who perpetuate violence against them.

The participants unanimously agreed to adopt zero tolerance to SGBV in Nigeria, women and girls were urged to report all cases of violence against them and they were assured that they will get justice because there are existing laws that will aid the process and there are organizations who can offer them free legal services to ensure them get justice.

There was also a dance drama which showcased different forms of sexual and gender based violence.
The event witnessed the presence of participants from OPDs, CSOs, MDAs and Social activists who graced the occasion to join DRAC celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities and International Human Rights Day.

You will recall that DRAC began marking this year’s 16 days of activism with several activities such as street protest against SGBV, Awareness creation in Markets and Parks in the FCT and Press releases, the Parliament is the activity that marked the closing of the 16-day long activities which DRAC successfully carried out.

Some pictures of the event:

by Chris Agbo,

After the DWAI’s launch of glossary for sexual & reproductive health in Nigeria sign- language on Thursday 10th, December, 2020, the following day Friday 11th December, 2020, they put together a one-day training and capacity building for Health workers and deaf women on the usage of glossary of sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria Sign Language.

The event which is part of DWAI’s Voice Nigeria sponsored project to enhance access to healthcare services for deaf women and girls, the training was to demonstrate the use of the glossary between the health workers and Deaf women.

The Executive Director of Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI), Hellen Beiyoku-Alase described the training as necessary because the health workers should understand how to use the sign language glossary that was newly launched. “We brought together health workers and Deaf women because the glossary is meant to enhance communication between them in the health facilities. This meeting is also meant to build the capacity of the health workers to understand deaf women better and how to communicate effectively with them.

She also spoke about total communication which she described as the ability to communicate effectively with the next person and the person is able to understand. The communication barriers has been the greatest challenge deaf women are facing at the health facilities. Another barrier is attitudinal which has put off so many deaf women from going to hospital. This wrong attitude towards Deaf women are perpetuated more by nurses, doctors have better understanding and are more friendly. She said “It is better I go to the church to give birth instead of going to hospital where I will be discriminated upon”.

She suggested that hospitals should improve in putting inscriptions which would be clearly and boldly written. Hospitals should have sign language interpreters, and hospitals should be wheelchair friendly.

Speaking further, she also suggested hospitals should enhance communication with deaf women, give priority to deaf people instead of keeping them waiting in the hospital. She also advised that the societal attitude towards deaf women should change, there should be respect of opinion of the deaf people especially on the issue of health.

The event also featured training of alphabets on sign language and there were group works on mental perception where the groups described Deaf, Woman and Man, what you think when you come across any of these.

The group 3, described the deaf are perceived as Hot tempered/angry, anti-social, Hale, limited, Beggars, Dependent, Cursed, intolerant, poor, hungry and so on. Group 1 described a woman as cooperative, religious, expensive, beauty, prostitute, etc, and group 2 describe a man as strong, tall, masculine, Handsome, Smart, Protection, aggressive, crafty, deceiver, cheat, lies, kidnapper etc. These are perceptions, it doesn’t reflect the true picture of every of the persons in these categories, not every man is crafty, not every man is a liar, not every woman is a prostitute, deaf people are not beggars, poor and hungry. This exercise was to showcase to the health workers that perception has affected the communication with the deaf women adversely.

The groups also worked on Total Communication, Group2 looked into improving communication for deaf women in health facilities, here, they suggested providing sign language interpretation in health facilities, inclusion of Sign language in Nigerian educational system from the primary level, enhance implementation of existing disability friendly policies on health, enhance awareness creation about deaf women and sign language. Group 1 looked at Building good relationship between deaf women and health workers, they suggested that deaf women should teach health workers some basics of sign language, deaf women should see health workers as partners not enemies, deaf women should form support/ advocacy group to provide support for other deaf women and the health workers. Group 3, the deaf women taught the health workers in the group how to sign from A-Z alphabets and one of the health workers demonstrated the signs to the admiration of other participants.

The event also witnessed drama presentation on how the glossary should be use in the health facilities, it is simply how the deaf women can explain what is wrong with them through the diagrams in the glossary.

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

By Loveth Obiora

Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) on Thursday 10^th December 2020 held a program titled 2020 international human rights day/launching & unveiling of glossary for sexual & reproductive health in Nigeria sign- language with the theme “increasing access to health services and information for deaf women and girls with sign-language”. This project is supported by Oxfam voice Nigeria.

The Executive director, Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) Mrs. Hellen Beyioku -Alase in her opening speech acknowledged the present of Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Federal Ministry of Women Affair, Federal Capital Territory Health and Human Services (FCT HHS), Federal Capital Territory  Primary Health Care Board (FCT PHCB), VOICE, Ipas, Marie Stopes International Organization of Nigeria, Disabled People Organization, Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, Nigeria National Association of Deaf, the Media, Diplomats, keynote speaker Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje and other invited guests.

She further said that it is international human rights day, a day we uphold the rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

She said the theme of the year international human rights day is recover better – stand up for human rights, now  what way can they recover better but  to stand up for the rights of  deaf women and that is why DWAI is launching and unveiling the first ever glossary for sexual and reproductive health in Nigerian sign- language.

She said the vision for the project came years back following her experience and that of other deaf women when they try to access sexual and reproductive health services in the language that they understand and since the vision was birthed bringing it to fruition has not been a walk in the park but the passion to stand up for their rights has made it possible for them to hold this beautiful work in their hands today and they hope that the glossary will go a long way to bridge the communication gap between deaf women and health workers when they seek access to sexual and reproductive health services.

She further said she want to use this medium to beckon on the International community, Governments, and Non-government organizations to key into their project, collaborate with them and ensure full participation of PWDs and with sign-language nothing that “nothing about us without us”, and to leave no one behind according to the UN Secretary- General in achieving the central promise of the 2030 agenda.

Finally, she appreciated the efforts of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, the office of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, office of Ministry of Women Affairs and National Assembly  for taking a giant step to appoint the executive members who are also PWDs for the new established National Commission for PWDs  as well as SSAs and Special Advisers, and this is a good step towards ensuring full realization of inclusion of  PWDs  in almost every area in our society, but despite the giant strides a lot needs to be done to sensitize the society, about the disability inclusion and access and the content of discrimination against PWDs (Prohibition) Act 2018 to yield the best outcomes

At the end, she also thanked all participants, representatives, partners and their donor voice global for finding their project worthy of sponsorship.

Federal Ministry of Women Affairs represented by Victoria Lar, in her goodwill message appreciated the Executive director, DWAI for a good work and launching of the glossary, she said the glossary will help the health service providers in understanding the needs of deaf women in the health sector and she hope that this will be the beginning of such things in other to achieve inclusion in every aspect of life.

FCT Health and Human Services, Babajide Steven in his goodwill message thanked DWAI for launching of this glossary and promised everyone the FCT health and human service will make sure that the glossary will help them in understanding the need of deaf women in the health sector, and they are looking forward to collaborate more with DWAI.

Other goodwill messages was given by Director FCT Primary Health Care Board,  Ruqayya Wamakko, Vice President Nigeria National Association of Deaf Mr. Haruna Mohammed, Representative Oxfam VOICE Nigeria Mrs.  Ijeoma Okwor.

The keynote address was given by Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje with the topic access to healthcare for deaf women, a must for successful inclusive society, and Dr. Ijeoma Nnodim guest speaker on sexual and reproductive health glossary: the journey to production of Nigerians first sexual and reproductive health sign – language glossary.

The highlight of the event was unveiling of the glossary by Dr Musa Emmanuel, a Consultant and Surgeon representing MD Maitama district hospital, the glossary was distributed five copies to the representative of different hospital present such as kuje, kubwa, bwari, maitama, kwali, asokoro and also to the media partners like NTA, Mi TV The Qualitative Magazine (TQM) and some participants at the event also got some copies. 

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT:

There was intense competition but highly entertaining show from AID TALENT HUNT as the contestants filed out and had their first public performances to enable to viewers vote who will remain in the academy as eviction will happen in their next outing.

AID TALENT HUNT (ABILITY IN DISABILITY) is a reality show put together to harness talents among persons with disabilities.

It is first of its kind in Nigeria and it geared towards discovering and exposing persons with disabilities to opportunities through entertaining.

The first show and the great performances exhibited by the contestants is an indication that the should will achieve its set objectives.

The contestants were drawn from different clusters of disability and they are;

Lucky Pastor(Blind) a singer from Delta State, Akpeji Augustine Ayodele (Blind) a singer and DJ from Oyo State, Wilfred Agharite (Blind) a singer and DJ from Delta State, Nworie Chigozie Anthonia (Amputee) a singer from Ebonyi State, Philip John (Physical Disability), a singer from Ebonyi State, Ibu Peter Ogar ( Physical Disability) a singer from Cross River State, Kelvin Ameh Sunday (Amputee) a singer from Kogi State, Kelechi Uhegwu (Physical Disability) a singer from Abia State, Molakwu Blessing Nkechi ( Amputee) an actress from Anambra State, Christopher Odogwu (Person with albinism) a rapper from Anambra State, Sunday Ejeh ( Physical Disability) a singer from Benue State, Ava Nyajo (Physical Disability) a singer from Benue State, Festus Zenda (Deaf) an actor from Benue State, Rita Ofili (Physical Disability) an actress from Delta State and Moses Uzuakpundu(Blind) an singer from Delta State.

Watch the show on Youtude: aidtalenthunt tv, instagram: aidtalenthunt

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Officials of Dana Air have refused to board a woman, Mrs. Oguntoyose Gbemi (pseudonym) because she is a wheelchair user.

Mrs. Oguntoyose was supposed to be travelling to Abuja via Dana Air this afternoon.

Disregarding the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, Dana Air said its policy does not have provision for wheelchair users.

Despite that the passenger was travelling with the assistance of her sister, she was clearly denied access to board the flight while other passengers proceeded with the trip to Abuja this afternoon.

Officials of Dana Air insisted that the flight fee would be refunded as the airline cannot convey her because of her disability.

The passenger who explained that was not her first time of travelling by air expressed shock over the policy of Dana Air which is discriminatory.

A fellow passenger and former President, National Association of the Blind, David Okon who shared the video with BONews Service lamented over the ‘irresponsible policy’ which lacks respect for human dignity.

Okon called for the full implementation of the National Disability Act with the aim of addressing unfavorable policies which further discriminates against persons with disabilities in the country.

Dana Air was in 2019 awarded as the winner of the Disability Inclusion champion Transportation Sector by Project Enable.

Bonews

By Chris Agbo,

Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) FCT on Saturday in Abuja organized their 7th Edition of Deaf Women Awareness Week and International Day for Persons with disabilities/end of year party with the theme “Not all disabilities is Visible”.

The Chairperson of DWAN, Hellen Beiyoku-Alase in her opening remark while thanking dignitaries at the event who found time to grace the occasion, said that “it is time to thank God for keeping us till the end of the year and every December is celebration for persons with disabilities (PWDs) because it is the month we are celebrating International Day for Persons with disabilities, it is another day for celebration and we thank God for the day”. She thanked Deaf women for their support and being together. It is a day for the deaf women to celebrate their success and also learn from the motivational speakers who have been invited to speak. She also thanked all those who have been supporting deaf women in one way or the other.

There were goodwill messages from Mrs. Adedoyin Beiyoke-Alase, (Mama Deaf), The National President, Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, a director at National Commission for Persons with disabilities and ED, Centre for Deaf Inclusion), Mr. Afolayan, (Centre for Deaf Inclusion), Mr. Ephraim Omoreige, Chairman, Abuja Association of Deaf, Comrade Bumni, Ekaete Judith Umoh, The National President, Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD), and Agbo Christian Obiora, The Executive Director, The Qualitative Magazine (TQM).

The event witnessed motivational speeches from Comrade Bumni who spoke about being intentional, Agbo Christian Obiora spoke about living a life of legacy, and Ekaete Umoh spoke about building self-content and following your passion.

There were dancing competitions and singing where the deaf showed that they can sing and dance.

In spite the hardship occasioned by COVID-19 and recession, DWAN upgraded their celebration from gardens where they use to have their end of year party to a Three Star Hotel.

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Jenkins Tar Foundation in collaboration with Hope Alive for possibilities initiative on 3rd December in Makurdi, Benue State marked The International Day for Persons WIth Disabilities.

The Founder and Executive Director, Possibilities Initiative, Avershim Akighir said that the theme of the year which is “Building Back Better: Towards a disability inclusion, accessible and sustainable Post Covid-19” drew the attention of the world to disability inclusion and how there should be a facilities that will enhance among PWDs, be in access to physical infrastructure or access to information.

Speaking further, she said that they decided to use the day to empower women with disabilities because they understand what women with disabilities are going through. The discrimination as a woman and also discrimination as a person with disability. WGWDs need to be encouraged in order to live beyond disability.

The event witnessed activities such as fashion display by persons with disabilities tagged” Beauty in Disability ” , cutting of cake, distribution of sanitary pads to young girls with disabilities.

Some pictures of the event:

About 20M PWDs live in Nigeria, UK envoy

By Olasunkanmi Akoni,

Sightsavers organisation, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, CIPM and stakeholders have stressed the need for employers of labour in Nigeria to engage the services of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs in the workplace inorder to further tap inherent potentials and bridge economic shortfall.

The International Labour Organisation, ILO, had stated in it’s report that three to seven per cent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP, is lost within middle and low-income-countries as persons with disabilities are excluded from the job market.

The stakeholders comprising of corporate giants, high-profile private companies, international development organisations and government, envoys, professional bodies, Human Resources, HR, outfits,  among others, made the call at a webinar, titled, “Launching ceremony of Nigeria Business Disability Network, NBDN,” organised by Sightsavers organisation, a private-sector network that champions disability inclusion in the workplace.

The British Deputy High Commission in Nigeria and country director of the ILO and Nigeria’s biggest companies including Access Bank, Mobil and Dangote Group, attended the webinar launch as network members.

NBDN was organised to afford employers tap into the pool of diverse skills that people with disabilities can offer the workplace and their supply chain.

Sightsavers Nigeria, with the support of the UK AID initiative-Inclusive Futures, is partnering with CIPM who serves as the coordinating body for the network in Nigeria. CIPM is the Nigeria’s apex HR body with over 12,000 members.

Dr. Sunday Isiyaku, Country Director Sightsavers Nigeria and Ghana, explained, “We know that employers in Nigeria and beyond want to hire people with disabilities, many are unsure where to start or how to make their company truly inclusive.”

According to Isiyaku,” Employing persons with disabilities has clear benefits not only for the people employed, but also for businesses. One estimate suggests that there’s a spending power of $8 trillion waiting for businesses who recognise this, and it starts with hiring inclusively.”

Ms Busola Alofe, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and partner, added, the NBDN, an off shoot of the ILO Global Business Disability Network, is an employer-led platform which aims to: Foster disability inclusion practices and policies in the workplace, build disability confidence of employers,build job readiness of people with disabilities.

According to Alofe, “Our message to employers will be to make it top priority but the bottom line is that most of them require guidance to make workplace conducive for PWDs. “Its sad that a lot of organizations and government are yet to imbibe inclusiveness in employment. ‘I urge all employers to go out there, identify PWDs, identify their strength area for improving their businesses and revenue base. “Even, people will not just see you as making money but also contributing to development of the society. “PWDs have equal or better competence and skills than persons without disabilities.”

Through webinars, Alofe added, resources, working groups and peer learning, members could gain from experts’ advice and tailored support from disability rights groups to become a disability confident at work environment. “One of these resources is a practical ‘disability toolkit’ which is already available to all as an open-source for business leaders, HR managers and property developers. “The toolkit gives guidance on how to hire and develop employees with disabilities as well as how to make supply chain inclusive,” she stated.

Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Jones, delivered a keynote address on the occasion, titled, “The Roles of Private Sector, organisation s and Donor Agencies in driving a sustainable disabilities inclusion agenda in workplace.” Speaking via virtual platform, Jones stated, “1 billion people globally are living with disabilities. Most of them are invisible and living in developing countries while 20 million are in Nigeria.” While decrying the exclusion of PWDs in workplace, the British envoy, urged Nigeria government to convene a Disabilities Summit to address challenges facing the group. Jones continued: “UK is empowering its PWDs.

In 2018 it organised a Disabilities Summit where challenges facing them and the action plans for improved inclusion in workplace were addressed. ‘I think Nigeria government should organise a Disabilities Summit with the view for action plans.”