Ann Ojugo emerged as the new Chairman of JONAPWD Edo State.

In an election held today in Benin city, Edo State Capital. Ann Ojugo was declared the winner of the election when she scored 60 votes and Ugbo Michael her opponent got 4 votes.

Here are the results for all the posts contested for:
Financial secretary
Denis 35
Grace 26
Social welfare secretary
Emmanuel Akhere 7
Love this Ability 42
Emezie 13
Publicity Secretary
Wilson 9
Bartholomew 24
Monday isele 27
Chief whip
Favour 34
Gbenga 30
Treasurer
Atole 21
Edwin Aigbekean 45
Secretary
Sunny Osagie 7
Martin Audu 41
Vice Chairman
Igie Ayegino 28
Kingsley igunbor 36
Chairman
Ugbo Michael 4
Ann Ogiugo 60

SANWO-OLU APPOINTS OGUNDAIRO AS GENERAL MANAGER, LASODA

by Chris Agbo

One of the leading disability advocacy organization, Inclusive Friends Association(IFA) on 18-19 November, 2020 in Akwanga, Nassarawa State brought together journalists for a two-day capacity building workshop titled Disability focused Media Reporting Training for Journalists with the agenda (Social Protection: Include me).

The workshop is part of the activities of project supported by Save the Children to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities(PWDs) in the National Social Protection Policy.

The Executive Director of IFA, Miss Grace Jerry, in her opening speech, said that the essence of the workshop is to get the media to understand the social protection programmes and how PWDs has been excluded. There is over 30million Nigerians with disabilities, which in reality are not being reached by authorities in charge of social protection programmes and these programmes are designed to increase economic wellbeing of the poor.

Speaking further, she said that it is because of this that Save The Children are partnering with IFA to work out ways in which PWDs would be included in the interventions associated to these programmes.

“In order for us to bring this issue and other issues of PWDs to the front burner, all stakeholders have to be involved because IFA cannot do it alone, first we have to build an alliance with the media who can hold the authorities accountable to include PWDs in Social Protection Programmes. Having a synergy with the media, provide for them relevant documents and technical support while they carry out their own research and put out report that is accurate and with the right message to achieve positive change” she said.

The Social Inclusion Officer-CDGP, Save the Children, Esther Angulu in her goodwill message congratulated IFA for putting together the workshop, saying that it is a crucial time for disability inclusion in Social Protection programmes because National Social Protection Policy that came into being in 2017 is undergoing a review and disability inclusion which is in the front burner in all sectors, Save the Children being an organization that works around social protection decided to ensure disability inclusion is inculcated into the policy.

“That’s why we are partnering with IFA to ensure that PWDs are included in all social protection programmes and the media is key towards ensuring that we bring the disability issues in relation to social protection to the frontburner” she said. 

Grace Jerry while taking the participants on understanding disability (models) made them to understand that impairment became a disability when it has interacted with the barriers posed by the society, the different types of disability and different models. She advised that social and rights approaches would be what the media should adopt while reporting disability issues because the medical and charity model are disenabling.

She also emphasized on the use of the right terminologies, so she read out some of the right terms the media should be using while referring to different types of disability in accordance with United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities(UNCRPD).

“Always consult us or any other notable disability advocacy organization who have indepth knowledge about disability issues to verify before using if you are not sure, you can as well print out the right terminologies from the document we are going to share and paste it in your office” she concluded.

Esther Angulu during her session explained that social protection is designed to cushion the effect of the shocks an individual may experience within his life cycle. She explained that social protection meant to reduce poverty and inequality and over past months and years, Nigeria has worked on strengthening the social protection policies and programmes by formulating National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) 2017, National Safety Nets and Social Transfer Programmes and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. She informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved review of the National Social Protection Policy and going by this window, the Save The Children are working with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to ensure inclusion of PWDs in all social protection programmes because it is difficult to ascertain the number or percentage of PWDs in the schemes presently.

She went further to propose a social protection programme that would be targeted to PWDs because of the challenges and barriers associated with disability in relation with social protection. While highlighting barriers faced by PWDs which has brought about extra cost for PWDs, she urged the media to help to amplify the project that Save The Children is embarking through IFA in order to help in addressing these issues.

Jide Ojo, the Executive Director, Oja Consults, in his session on Reframing Disability in News and The Role of Media in Disability Awareness, reminded the media practitioners that the way they frame the message about PWDs is the way the public will perceive them. He said that the media is the fourth estate of the realm, their primary role is to hold government accountable so they should be able to ask questions about how far government have gone in the implementation of disability laws and policies. He also said that the media is so powerful that he describes them as sword of democracy because they can make or mar a government. The implication is that it is the media that should be setting agenda on all issues including disability issues. They should be mindful the way they frame disability stories because whatever they dish out is what the public will believe. He advised the participants to ensure that they use the right disability terminologies, avoid over sensationalism of disability issues, stop reporting PWDs as superheroes or as object of pity. He also advised the participants to arm themselves with relevant documents, tools and instruments and ensure that they consult and refer to them while reporting disability issues.

Eugenia Abu, Multimedia Strategist while facilitating a session told the participants that they should portray PWDs with dignity and respect because that is how the public would view PWDs. She advised them that venturing into disability reportage should born out of passion, if they should put in their best in promoting disability inclusion in the media. It would distinguish them and possibly earn them accolades. She tutored that not every story about a PWD that his or her disability should be reflected, if the person’s disability is not the focal point on the story, it is advisable to play down the person’s disability.

She charged the participants to do many stories on disability inclusion, saying that it is important because it geared towards building a better society.

She urged the participants to ensure that they pass on the knowledge gained to their colleagues to further help in the promotion of disability inclusion in media reportage for the good of the society.

The workshop also witnessed breakout sessions where the participants practiced what they were taught by these seasoned facilitators to arm them with information, skills, tactics and the participants developed disability stories that they would to working on and publish to enhance disability inclusion in the media reportage. 

TQM learnt that the other activities on the project are Situation Analysis, capacity building of relevant stakeholders including leaders of PWDs and the project is being piloted in 4 States-Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna and Jigawa.

Some pictures of the workshop:

Abuja/Geneva- The first physical rehabilitation centre in the Borno state capital Maiduguri opens today, bringing physical rehabilitation services to hundreds of people with physical disabilities in Nigeria’s conflict-stricken northeast.

The centre, which will be run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is projected to serve more than 2,000 people in need of prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, crutches and mobility devices by 2022.

“We have seen through our other physical rehabilitation centres how life-changing these services are. At times, people come to us crawling, and they go back walking on their feet,” said Idah Kadyamatimba, ICRC’s physical rehabilitation programme manager.

Before the opening of the centre in Maiduguri, people living with disabilities often had to travel to another ICRC facility in Kano, a journey that can take 7 hours by road.

“The centre epitomizes one of the definitions of making physical rehabilitation services accessible and as close as possible to people in need,” said Mr Eloi Fillion, ICRC’s head of delegation in Nigeria.

The new physical rehabilitation centre in Maiduguri will provide a wide range of services and mobility devices such as artificial limbs, wheelchairs and crutches, and offer physiotherapy and mental health psycho-social support to people with disabilities. The facility will start operating with 34 staff, eight of whom are people with disabilities who have undergone physical rehabilitation with the ICRC. The centre was financed through the innovative funding mechanism called “The Humanitarian Impact Bond” created to encourage social investment from the private sector to support the ICRC’s health programs.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the new facility via video conference today, along with Nigeria’s Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Borno State’s Executive Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum among other dignitaries who attended the ceremony.

The ICRC is the world’s largest provider of physical rehabilitation services in countries experiencing armed conflict and violence. In 2019, the ICRC assisted over 420,000 people with disabilities in more than 30 countries. In Nigeria, the ICRC will continue supporting the physical rehabilitation centre in Kano where 314 people with disabilities received assistance in 2019. The ICRC has been assisting people with disabilities in Nigeria since 1979.

by Chris Agbo

The Association of Applicants/Workers with Disability in Nigeria on Saturday 14^th November, 2020 in Abuja organized her 7years Anniversary/Award Presentation and Bus launch.

The founder and the President of the Association, Godstime Onyegbunam in his opening remark said that the association came into being 7 years ago as a result of discrimination applicants with disabilities faced while searching for employment at the civil service. He narrated that it all started from the frustrations most of them were facing at the at Federal Civil Service Commission when they would always refer persons with disabilities to Head of Service to obtain waiver before they can be employed. They were continually denied the waiver and many of them were frustrated out seeking for employment.

Speaking further, he said that the frustration continued for years before persons with disabilities came together and formed a group instead of approaching it individually, we decided to approach it collectively. In 2013, they had their first protest at Head of Service. They equally went to Aso Villa to protest, and it was at that the presidency allocated 176 slots of employment for persons with disabilities.

After then, they continued, took their protest to National Assembly to support the call for the passage of National Disability Bill and graciously, President Buhari in January 2019 signed the bill into law which gave them a legal standing especially in the area of employment where they focus on.

According to him, they have been recording success by sensitizing the government agencies on what the law says and the need for them to comply. Those who didn’t see reasons to comply, we normally take peaceful protest to their office to remind them and get them to comply. So far, they have not witness any violence and they have succeeded in securing employment for numerous persons with disabilities in different governmental agencies. With these achievements, he said that they have challenges which ranges from funding, they are self-funded, members are contributing to success of the association.

“Mobility is one of our greatest challenge and that is why we put together this event to source for funds to acquire a bus to ease our movement especially during our advocacy outings. Another is funding because over 90 percent of our members live outside Abuja, so it is difficult bringing them to Abuja whenever we are to engage agencies, people and organizations should come to rescue in the area of funding to further advance our cause” he said.    

He called on the governmental agencies to make things easier for them by complying to the 5percent employment opportunity stipulated at the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

The event witnessed the Drama presentation by members of the Association showcasing discrimination they faced while searching for job and why workers should think about the future before they discriminate against applicants with disabilities.

The Association presented awards to some deserving organizations and individuals who have in one way or the other helped the association in the last 7 years.  

Some of the agencies represented at the event were Ministry of Labour and Productivity, NDIC, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nigeria Police and many others.

Some Pictures of the event:

by Loveth Obiora,

Voice of Disability Initiative on Monday 16^th November, 2020 organized a One Day focused group discussion on concept of inclusive education.

The project supported by Disability Rights Fund is aimed at having the audience gain comprehensive understanding of inclusive education as it relates to different disability categories and commit to championing advocacy for effective implementation in FCT and Nigeria as a whole, with a view of eliminating misconceptions around the practice; and gaining more diverse to support the movement.

The Executive Director, Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), Barrister Catherine Edeh, in her speech urged the Federal Government to include sign language in teachers training manual and also in the school curriculum and syllabuses in order to mainstream the deaf in the schools.

Speaking further, she expressed dismay the way and manner government have allowed the special schools for persons with disabilities to be degenerated to the level of losing the essence of establishing them. She frowned at government for not being fair to persons with disabilities by always situating special schools in remote areas which makes it difficult for persons with disabilities to access them.

She advocated for government to develop the will of implementing the National Inclusive Education Policy 2015 which was designed to mainstream persons with disabilities in primary and secondary schools. Government should as matter of urgency ensure that government owned schools start implementing National Inclusive Education Policy because the policy was established in 2015 and since nothing much has been done. It is important now because of the principle of “leave no one behind”.

She also said that the focused group is geared towards discussing the future of inclusive education in Nigeria while making schools accessible to persons with disabilities.

She also spoke about catching them young because there would be big challenge to build them up when they are gone beyond foundational stage. Whatever that is good for children without disabilities is also good for children with disabilities. The proximity of the schools should be highly considered; you should not situate schools where they cannot access. For example, a child with disability cannot be living in Masaka and have to be sending to a school in Gwagwalada. This has led to a great percentage of children with disabilities are out of school.

“Deaf children will not have much problems of coping well if we have quality teachers who are good in sign language employed in many schools within our environment”, she reasoned.

The Director, Communication and ICT, Women Advocacy and Development Initiative (WEAD), Mute Olori, said parents should be equipped with knowledge in understanding and caring for children. Government should sensitize parents and children with special needs on the need not to give up. And the need for the society to accept them wholeheartedly if not we will continue to see them as a menace and political tools.

The workshop was participatory and was rich with seasoned discussants such as Madam Ekaete Umoh(JONAPWD President), Barr. Yusuf Iyodo (Director, Media and Publicity, ALDIN), Madam Lola Aneke.

Ekaete spoke on the past present and future of inclusive education in Nigeria a factual approach

Mrs. Lola Aneke talked on achieving effectiveness in the quest for inclusive education in Nigeria A way forward

While Barr. Yusuf talked on policy framework and legal perspectives of education for all: legal implication of the educational system in Nigeria

Other notable dignitaries at the event were Barrister Hauwa Shekarau(Chairperson,THE Nigerian Bar Association FCT Chapter) , Sr Florence Emmanuel(Program Officer at Daughter of Charity, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia from Centre for Deaf Inclusion, the facilitator Barrister Ese among other very vibrant participants.

VDI designed the project to galvanize support and raise awareness on the implementation of the National policy on inclusive education and other relevant disability laws in Nigeria.

Director of the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center, Jos , Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan has been bestowed with a chieftaincy title by the Kwakas Community in Kawel – Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, as ‘NGHU NAH KADDON RENG’-KWAKAS ( The man who has sympathy for the less privileged) for his contributions and kindness to humanity.

According to Mishkaham Reng Kwakas, Chief Pharm Silas P. Dashan, the community gave Chief Burki the honour following his extra ordinary philanthropic gestures to People living with disability and the less privileged in the Society.

Burki was applauded for having through his foundation distributed mobility appliances, supported persons affected by conflict with farming implements, given scholarships to the less privileged and supported businesses among other interventions in Plateau State and beyond, which attracted so much attention from all and sundry including Kwakas community.

The conferment of the title took place at the Palace of the Mishkaham Reng Kwakas, Kawel during the distribution of wheelchairs and crutches to those in need to enhance their mobility and capacity to live a better life.

Burki, a polio survivor himself expressed surprised at the honour bestowed on him by the community. “I am overwhelmed by this show of love, it is indelible to my heart, and I am encouraged to do more and join hands for the growth, unity, progress and development of Mushere land”, an elated Chief Burki said in gratitude.

Acting Mishkaham Kawel, Pa Peter Ngukat and Wakilin Kawel, Dr Chief Obadiah Datukun, welcomed and eulogised Chief Burki for his kind contribution to humanity and solidarity. They respectively prayed and wish him well in all his endeavors.

The presentation of the tricycles and cructches donated by the Beautiful Gate foundation was made to the beneficiaries after which Chief Burki departed for Tenti Baba in Mandar ward of Bokkos for another presentation to those Living with Disability.

The United Nations is being urged by campaigners round the world to ensure more women with disabilities are elected to positions of leadership. Sightsavers Nigeria is urging their UN representative to vote for diversity in the upcoming UN elections for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The call is part of Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign which is urging the United Nations and its member states to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities by ensuring their voices are heard in the decisions that affect their lives.

Dr Sunday Isiyaku, Country Director at Sightsavers Nigeria says, “We need to see more women with disabilities in positions of leadership. If women are not welcomed into the spaces where decisions are made – how will their voices ever be heard?”

“People with disabilities are experiencing some of the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and women with disabilities are the hardest hit. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure they are in a position to ensure the rights of women with disabilities are upheld.”

The Committee monitors over 180 countries to examine the extent to which they are upholding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee then makes recommendations to governments to ensure people with disabilities can access their full range of rights.

As the Committee prepares for its next round of elections in October, the Equal World campaign is highlighting that of the 18 members on the UNCRPD’s monitoring panel, only six are women. Before the campaign began in 2018, only one woman sat on its panel with 17 men.

“The Committee moved forward two years ago when four more women were elected to its panel”, says Dr Joy Shuaibu. “We really want to ensure we continue to make progress to achieve parity and given the situation with the pandemic, now is the time to do that.”

Equal World is calling for people to write to their country’s UN representative before elections close at the end of November. To learn more or support the campaign visit www.sightsavers.org/EqualUN

For further details, interviews and case studies contact Rasak Adekoya, Programme Officer at Sightsavers Nigeria on radekoya@sightsavers.org

TQM report,

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has been re-elected into the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room representing persons with disabilities.

In a press statement signed by Program Assist CCD, Florence Atta, CCD led by its Executive Director, David Obinna Anyaele defeated Mr. Jake Epelle of The Albino Foundation(TAF) 47 – 6 votes at the Situation Room general meeting / retreat which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja over last week.

“The re-election of CCD into the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a re-validation of CCD’s credibility, integrity and capability to represent Nigerians with disabilities and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the highly sought-after coalition “

“It is also an authentication that CCD has really made impact on elections and persons with disabilities in Nigeria through its campaign on equal voting access for persons with disabilities, a campaign we started since 2006 to ensure no one is left behind in the electoral processes by reason of disability” the Executive Director, said.

“What we witnessed at the general meeting / retreat was a clear statement by civil society organisations from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria that CCD has done well for PWDs. It was an appreciation of the efforts by CCD in promoting inclusive society that is free from discrimination on the grounds of disability.”

“You need to hear what Mr. Samson Ezenwa of Partners for Electoral reform said about CCD and its leadership during his nomination of CCD to serve as a Steering Committee member of this coalition. He was full of praise for CCD and its efforts that led to the passage of the National Disability Act. It means that Nigerians know who is doing what.”- Florence Attah, Program Assistant, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) said.

Others elected as members of the Steering Committee include: the Executive Director, Proactive Gender Ms. Esther Uzoma as the New Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Abuja – Secretariat; Young Innovators and Vocational Training Initiative (YIVTI); Mac-Jim Foundation; NISD, African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development, ROLAAC, Kimpact Youth Initiative; EDOSCSO; Grassroot Mobilization – DAC; Women Rights and Environment Program – WREP; Action Aid Nigeria; CDD, Abuja and CLEEN Foundation among others.

Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations that monitor Nigeria’s electoral process and elections across the country. Situation Room undertakes regular analysis and dissemination of information on major developments and events relating to the conduct of elections in Nigeria. It supports coordination and synergy amongst election stakeholders. The focal objectives of Situation Room are to improve the quality of Nigeria’s electoral system and strengthen civil society organisations’ capacity to better engage and monitor the electoral process.