The Chairman of National Assembly Senate Committee has promised to assist Executive Secretary (ES) of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in actualizing its mandate.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf (APC, Taraba) while appreciating the ES for detailed presentation of the proposed budget mandated him to be above board in discharging his duties considering the high expectations from Nigerians with Disabilities and fellow compatriots. In his remarks, ES, Mr. James Lalu, thanked the members of the Senate Committee for their support in passing the bill which culminated in the establishment of the Commission by the President and assured them of the Commission’s willingness to work closely with the Committee to ensure the mandate of the Commission is fulfilled and impact felt by the various Communities of Persons with Disabilities in the entire country. Lalu had yesterday, led a team of management staff on the second and final phase of the Budget defence at the National Assembly. The team met with the National Assembly Senate Committee to appraise the proposed budget of the Commission for 2021.
Office of Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Katsina State Governor on Disability matters have advised Persons with Disabilities in Katsina State to strive to acquire knowledge, no hindrances or disability is an excuse, adding that nothing can stop them except laziness.
Not only did he charged these people, the SSA, Hon. Ya’u Rufa’i Zakka also made commendable donations of tricycles to some children with Physical Disabilities for ease of mobility as part of his efforts to encourage and enhance school enrolment and attendance by them.
He said this at a sensational program organised for Daura Zone at Rehabilitation/Youth centre, Daura, Katsina State where representatives with “Special Needs” from twelve Local Government Areas came together. The LGAs include Daura, Maiadua, Baure, Sandamu, Zango, Mashi, Mani, Dutsi, Kankia, Ingawa, Bindawa and Kusada.
Zakka encouraged all children, youth and adults to strive to acquire knowledge as it is the foundation for a bright future for all. He also cautioned representatives to live in peace within their communities and to stay off bad groups that disrupt the peace.
The SSA also gave assurances that the State Government is doing its best to address problems facing Persons with Disabilities, and the State as a whole.
Matching words with actions, Hon. Zakka donated school uniforms, exercise books, pencils and biros to primary school pupils of Daura Zone as part of his continual efforts to ensure that the education of children wirth Special Needs continue to be a beacon of hope to the Disability Community in Katsina State.
Also, each representative from the Twelve (12) Local Government Areas of Daura Zone got a token of #5,000 as a program benefit.
Promise was made for continuation of the program in Katsina zone.
Manya Alice is a Deaf teacher at Model Science Primary
school Mabudi in Langtang South Local Government of Plateau state. She became
deaf as a result of illness when she was a child.
This single lady attended Primary and Secondary school at
School for the Deaf Bassa, in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. And
in 2018, She got admission into College of Education Pankshin, where She read
Special Education CRS at NCE level.
She had a chat with our correspondents when they visited her
school and she shared some of the challenges she is facing as a teacher with
hearing impairment.
TQM. What are some of
the problems you face as a teaching staff in this school?
I am facing communication problem, especially with other
staffs. But with my students, as they learn, we communicate better.
TQM. If you are to
advise the school or government, what would your advice be with regard to the
communication difficulty you talked about?
An interpreter should be employed, who would bridge the gap between the non-hearing impaired staff and students on one hand and the hearing impaired staff and students on the other hand. This would better the socialization of the two sides.
Manya Alice in the middle with two of her deaf pupils.
TQM. As a teacher of students with hearing impairment,
what would you say are their challenges in this School?
The students lack learning materials, which most of the parents
are not willing or unable to provide. And because, other students with hearing
impairment are not in the place, they lack partners to practice sign language
with, especially after school hours, and this slowed their learning capacity.
TQM. As a deaf person,
have your rights been abused as a result of your disability?
l have not experience that.
TQM. What other activities
do you do, apart from your engagement as a teacher?
I am into a little farming.
TQM. Have ever gotten
or seek for support to expand you little farming into a big one?
No
TQM. What will your
request be to the government and other individuals?
I am requesting for financial and materials support to do
more of my farming and possibly start another line of business.
The Qualitative Magazine (TQM) on Tuesday 10th
November, 2020 in Jos, Plateau State organized a One Day Capacity Building
Workshop of Persons with disabilities in Plateau State on Disability Rights.
The Executive Director, TQM, Agbo Christian Obiora in his opening remark/overview of the TQM said that the workshop is part of the activities of TQM Connecting Our Voices to The World Project being supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria. He said that the need for the capacity building of persons with disabilities on disability rights arise from the fact that there has been a lot of silence on the part of PWDs over demands to ensure that the provisions of the existing Plateau State Disability Law is fully implemented.
Executive Director, TQM Agbo Chris Obiora presenting a tricycle to John Satmak
Speaking further, he said that Plateau State was first to
have disability law in Nigeria, when they got their law as far back as 2005 and
they were first to have a disability rights commission still at the course of
their gathering of stories from different local government area in Plateau
State, a lot of persons with disabilities are not aware of the rights and they
are not taking advantage of the provisions which government have committed to
via the law. It was on the premise that the TQM decided to kickstart a campaign
“Know Your Right” to reawaken the consciousness of persons with disabilities in
Plateau State to begin to carry out aggressive advocacy to bring to the public
domain their alienable rights to get government to live up to their commitments
and for all sectors to know their roles and responsibilities for the good of
persons with disabilities.
He told the leaders of different cluster of disabilities at
the meeting that they are chosen to work for not only for themselves but for
those in the rural areas and those who may have disability in future.
He charged them to hold government accountable because the
disability is there to work for them and they should ensure that they
understand every section of the law and demand for the implementation of all
the provisions without exception.
One of the facilitator, Barrister Yusuf Iyodo, Director, Media and Publicity, Association of Lawyers with disabilities (ALDIN), in his presentation on relevant laws on disability where he spoke about United Nations Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities(UNCRPD), Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018 and Plateau State Disability Rights Law 2005. He educated the participants on these existing laws and dwelled more on Plateau State Disability Rights law, discussing sections that deal on accessibility, education, transportation, prohibition of discrimination etc.
Speaking further, he told the participants that the law is
as good as nothing if they do nothing about the implementation. He urged them
to jettison all forms of conflicts going on among them and form a common front
to articulate their demands and channel them to the appropriate quarters. He
also urged them to begin to demand for the right in any given opportunity.
The participants shared their experiences on the
discriminations they are facing from attitudinal, accessibility, employment, communication,
etc. They were advised to keep the engage the disability law more because it
treated most of these challenges. They asked to continue to engage themselves
and relevant sectors to understand their roles in the implementation of the
law.
The second facilitator, Joshua Yenle, a radio presenter at Highland FM, Jos, while presenting a paper on the effective use of the media to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, urge the participant to stop being shy from using the media to advocate for the rights. He told them that it is their right to use the media to air their views and they should ensure that they are very knowledgeable about the issues and be objective while airing their views, avoid being insulting for better understanding of your points. He emphasized the importance of the media to advance any cause because the media is there to educate, inform and communicate. He added that it doesn’t matter the language you use, what matters is that you have gathered the facts and you are knowledgeable about what you are talking about. He urged them to use the conventional media as well as the social media to drive the conversation.
Some of the participants who spoke at the end of the
sessions promised to work with persons with disabilities within their locality
to begin to engage the authority for the improvement of the living condition of
persons with disabilities. They urged TQM to organize more of this awareness
workshop bringing people from other sectors
to interact one on one with persons with disabilities and also to listen
to TQM in order for them understand their roles better.
They unanimously agreed to break the silence and began to
ask questions on the implementation of the disability rights. They planned to
adopt hash tag BREAK THE SILENCE in their proposed campaign.
This programme was interactive as participants had
opportunity to share their experiences relating to discrimination in all sphere
of their lives.
The event also witnessed a presentation of modernized
tricycle to John Satmak, TQM published his story where he lamented that his
iron made tricycle is bulky and as such no taxi accepts to carry him whenever
he wants to go out. The story got the attention of Rev. Georgia Ugah in Enugu
via Facebook and she contacted us on Facebook and donated a modernized tricycle
for him.
Mr. John was excited for receiving a gift from someone that he
has never seen. John simply said that “I don’t know what to say, I can only
said thank You”.
All Participants including their aids and volunteers got the latest and 15th Edition Publication of The Qualitative Magazine which is part of CONNECTING OUR VOICES TO THE WORLD being supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria.
The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, through the coordination office for the Child Empowerment Programme in Nigeria, supported by the Liliane Foundation, on Tuesday 3rd of November 2020, in Abuja, organized a one-day disability learning exchange with her partner organizations and the Directors of Rehabilitation in the States covered by the partners, as well as selected persons with disabilities.
Sr. Fidelia Unigwe, The programme Coordinator of the Child Empowerment Programme
The programme Coordinator of the Child Empowerment Programme, Sr.
Fidelia Unigwe, in her opening remark said that the essence of the programme was
to facilitate collaboration between the partner organizations, persons with
disabilities and the ministries, commissions, boards and agencies responsible
for disability affairs at the State level in order to enhance disability inclusion
at all levels in the States.
She also said that the forum provides an opportunity for the partner
organizations to understand the programs of the rehabilitation departments in
the State ministries, as well as those of the Disability Commissions and Boards
and the Lagos State Office for disability Affairs (LASODA), build capacity of
the partners and State actors on disability inclusion and social protection
programs, sensitize them on disability inclusive budgeting and expose them to
global best practice
Speaking further, she said that States should be more interested in mainstreaming
disability issues by ensuring that they domesticate the National disability act
in their various States. This will ensure a shift from the charity approach
that has characterized disability interventions to a rights-based approach.
The Director, Special Needs Department, Mrs. Nkechi Onwukwe, presented
a goodwill message on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,
Disaster Management and Social Development. In her speech, she commended the
Daughters of Charity for “their resourcefulness in organizing this estimable
meeting. She said that the agenda 2030 Sustainable development’s “Leaving no
one behind” have necessitated the need for a more inclusive approach to
development where every person is given equal opportunity both as contributor
and beneficiaries”. She further called
on the participants to join forces to reduce barriers to inclusion while also
advocating for meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in general.
She distributed copies of the Discrimination against persons with disabilities
Prohibition (Act) 2018 and the National Policy on Disability in Nigeria to the
participants.
Prompted by the facilitator of the meeting, (Mr. Rasak Adekoya,
Program Officer at Sightsavers Nigeria), the participants expressed how their
local languages referred to persons with disabilities, most of which were
derogatory in nature, which established that discrimination stems from the
society. Ekaete Umoh (the National
President of JONAPWD in Nigeria) built on that when she took the participants
on the Concepts of Disability, the different models of disability and their
applications, as well as the correct terminologies.
The participants worked in four small groups to look at four different case study scenarios of
barriers faced by persons with disabilities. The groups identified policy,
infrastructural and communication barriers as limiting the potentials and
effective participation of persons with disabilities in the society. They saw
the need for the government to put in place enabling laws and policies and also
implement the existing ones, to provide for inclusive social protection
programmes. While they commended the Federal government for setting up the National
Commission for persons with disabilities, they called on the government to
ensure adequate budgetary allocation for the commission, for the implementation
of the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities
(Prohibition) Act 2018.
The event also witnessed experience
sharing from the different State representatives on their programs,
achievements and challenges. The Directors were from Lagos, Edo, Akwa Ibom,
Niger, Abia, Rivers, Plateau, Benue, Imo and Ebonyi States.
In conclusion, Sr. Fidelia enjoined the partner organization(s) and participants from the State Ministries to follow up this encounter by organizing a similar forum when they return home, to involve more stakeholders in their States and design programs they could work on together for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. She said that the popularization of the Discrimination against persons with disabilities Prohibition (Act) 2018 and the implementation of the National Policy on Inclusive Education are possible starting points. The Daughters of Charity coordination office for the child empowerment programme, distributed copies of the National Policy on Inclusive Education to the participants.
The Leaders and Critical Stakeholders of Disability Communities in Yobe State today held a high level meeting ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities IDPWD 2020.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Mohammed Abba Isa, Head of Gender and Social Inclusion, The Network of Yobe Civil Society Organisations, the Committee discussed various issues, among which is the Commemoration of this special day in a new way of working and engaging with Humanitarian and Development Actors in line with this year Theme for IDPD 2020: “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution. To be commemerated every 3rd of December.
In attendance were the State Chairmen of Physically Challenged Persons, Blind, SCI, Deaf and Leprosy.
They prayed to Allah SWA to guide them in achieving what they discussed for the betterment of Persons with Disabilities and other vulnerable in the State.
Nanna Friday is a deaf girl and a pupil of Model Science
Primary school Mabudi in Langtang south local government of Plateau state. She is
class 3 and come to school from their home where she lives with her parents and
siblings.
She had a chat with our correspondent Bulus Bala Izang, the
interview question was made simple to interact effectively with her considering
her age.
TQM. Are you enjoying
your school?
Yes.
TQM. When you
complete your primary school, which Secondary school would you like to go to?
I would like to go to school for the deaf Jos.
TQM. Who is going to
pay for your secondary school?
My father.
TQM. Apart from your father, who else do you think
would?
I don’t know, l only know my father.
TQM. What would you
like to become when you grow up?
Would like to become a fashion designer.
TQM. Do any of your brothers or sisters have any
form of Disability?
No
TQM. Do your parents treat all of you the same?
No, they do more for my brothers and sisters.
TQM. If someone do something wrong to you because
you have disability, what would you do?
Ans. I will report them to our teacher.
TQM. If a big man
come to your school, what would you want him to do for you?
Ans. I will like him to give me money to pay my school fees.
The Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilty UNCRPD, Barr.Danlami Basharu paid a visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disability, Mr. James Lalu in his office on Monday the 9th of November. This meeting was the very first for both men since the appointment of Mr. Lalu as the ES.
In a press statement signed by Dooshima Pius-Ikerave, Chief press secretary/ Head Media & Publicity unit, Office of Executive Secretary NCPWD, Danlami congratulated the ES on his appointment and stated that he was looking forward to a very robust working relationship between the Commission and UNCRPD. He also assured the ES that the Commission could count on him and UNCRPD for his support and valued contribution to the progress and growth of not just the Commission but the entire Disability community in Nigeria
In his remarks, the ES, NCPWD appreciated the Chair of UNCRPD for coming to visit him. He affirmed that this was yet another testament to Mr Basharu’s unwavering commitment and passion for the advancement of the Disabilty cause not just in Nigeria but the world at large.
The ES opened that it was critical for key stakeholders within the Disabilty community and beyond to come together to work for the sake of achieving the Inclusion agenda. He assured Mr. Basharu that the Commission was more than ready to take on the responsibilities for which it was set up and he believed that with the support from Mr. Basharu and other eggheads like him he was confident that the Commission would grow in leaps and bounds.
An Ogun resident and victim of stray bullet from a yet-to-be identified police officer in Abeokuta, Mr. Kamol Ganiyu, has pleaded for support to walk again.
Ganiyu made the plea on Monday when he appeared before Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation set up to investigate complaints of victims on police brutality, human rights violations and extra judicial killings by security operatives within the state.
He said he would like to be able to lead his normal life again.
“I need government’s support because in the x-ray I took, it was revealed that my joint has been damaged by the gunshot and a huge amount is needed to fly me out for adequate treatment,” he stated.
The petitioner added after the incidence, “the police officers handling the case called me to Elewe-Eran Police station, offered me N250,000 and asked me to sign a form that I would not pursue the case in court which I refused to take and sign.”
According to him: “I was driving and right under Ibara bridge in Abeokuta, I heard a gunshot which penetrated my car and destroyed my right leg. “I fainted after losing so much blood and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta where I spent over six months receiving treatment”.
ASP Akeem Jimoh and Inspector Lola Onifade accused of offering the victim compensation to bury the case denied the accusation. But they did not reveal the police officer who shot Ganiyu. Chairman, Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation, Hon. Justice Solomon Olugbemi, said 207 medical bill receipts, 8 photographs and a cloth with blood stain were received while the car with bullet hole was also inspected and marked as evidence presented by the petitioner.
