Emotions ran high as students of School for the Deaf, Bassa, Plateau watched as Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center, Jos doled out items to the school.

Beautiful Gate, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, as part of efforts towards assisting the students of the school overcome the acute food challenge they are currently facing took bags of maize, garri, beans, millet, and jerricans of palm oil to the School.

Director Beautiful Gate Foundation, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, said the foundation has always supported the school, evident in the infrastructural intervention and regular provision of food items. He bemoan the neglect of the school by successive governments and call on the Plateau state government to priotise the school by placing it on first line charge.

He appreciated, Hon Engr Solomon Bulus Maren, Elder Jonathan Onigbinde and Hon Nanbam J Y Lot for their cash donation which augmented the effort of the Beautiful Gate foundation and call on other spirited individuals to come to the aid of the school as the students are facing hunger and starvation.

Expressing delight over the donation, Mrs Fantuam Area Director Bassa Area Directorate and Mrs Christiana Dalong who stood in for the Principal of School for the Deaf, Bassa, appreciated the Beautiful Gate foundation for it’s consistent laudable assistance to the school.

Diana Emmanuel is a woman with physical disability on a wheelchair, a student of NTA television college Jos.

She has been going through a lot of difficulties while growing up. Her life has been all about trying to survive and pursue her educational career to become a professional on air personality. Along the lines all her dreams were shattered and she had reasons to runs a business but she was dispossessed of it. Someone got “kekenapep” for her and it became her only source of income and we went back to school where she took care of herself through the proceeds.

The kekenapep which was being operated by someone who was delivering money daily.

Unfortunately, The Keke was stolen in the month of March this year and since then things has not been easy with her. It has been very tough for her and the situation is about heading to depression.

In view of this predicament, she is pleading with kind hearted individuals to support and assist her so that she doesn’t drop out of school. According to her, assist me with whatever you can afford. No amount is too small. So that I could bounce back with my life to start all over again. I want to get another kekenappe even if it is not a brand new one. Please…help her so she can sustain herself.

Let’s support with our widow’s might and also share her story with individuals that can support her.

Five hundred naira (N500), One thousand naira (N1,000) will go a long way to help her rediscover herself.

Donate to her account: Diana Emmanuel Ihuwe, Access Diamond Bank plc. 0014780582. Contact her on 09056954273, Let God bless you support her.

Cut bcThe Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Imo State Chapter have expressed joy and gratitude to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Humanitarian and Gender Affairs, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sir Nnamdi Anyaehie, the amiable wife of the Governor, Barr(Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma and His Excellency, Gov. Hope Uzodimma over the donation of palliatives to the persons with Disabilities across the 27 LGAs.

In a statement signed by The State Chairman, Tega Bright, he said that it is a demonstration in clear terms the genuine love and concern the Governor has for us.

Speaking further, he said that have no iota of doubt in our minds of His Excellency’s preparedness to better the lives of Imolites and PWDs in particular using the 3R mantra.

We have resolved to pledge our unalloyed support to all the policies and programs of the present administration. JONAPWD will continue to partner with the state Government to ensure that our members are carried along in the scheme of things, he concluded.

Says plight of vulnerable Nigerians getting worse

By Gabriel Ewepu – Abuja

As Nigeria joins the world to mark International Day For Older Persons and International Cerebral Palsy Day on October 1 and 6 respectively, a non-profit making organization, One Love Foundation, OLF, Sunday, called for attention on old people and persons with cerebral palsy in the country.

This was the assertion of the Founder and President, OLF, Chief Patrick Eholor, while speaking with Vanguard on the need to give adequate care to vulnerable persons in the country.

Eholor who lamented the poor treatment of vulnerable Nigerians left to their fate by family members, government and society said there is no clear-cut policy to tackle their challenges and as a result suffer and die painfully.

He also decried discrimination, oppression, violence, abuse of human rights, and brutality they face from society. The International Day For Older Persons 2020 with the theme, ‘We are in the Decade of Healthy Ageing’ was celebrated on October 1, 2020, and it is the 30th anniversary of the Day coinciding with Nigeria’s diamond independence anniversary.

History has it that the UN General Assembly designated October 1 of every year as the International Day of Older Persons on December 14, 1990. According to a report currently there about 700 million people over 60 years of age, which is predicted that by 2050, this figure will increase to about 2 billion.

Meanwhile, the International Cerebral Palsy Day with the theme, ‘Make Your Mark’ is coming up on October 6, 2020.

The day is to celebrate and affirm the lives of the 17 million people living with Cerebral Palsy across the world.

He said: “Old people are supposed to be treated like an angel in a responsible society. They are supposed to be on social benefits. They are supposed to have a social club. People with down-syndrome supposed to be treated as very special people in our society because of their disability.

“This set of Nigerians is treated very poorly in this country. They are called and referred to as witches, wizards, and mami-water spirits possessed with demons. In fact, they are being treated like mad people, and it is very unfair to them. They are vulnerable people.”

He further stated that “Disability package should be provided for them including welfare. We in One Love Foundation are trying to our part on our part to add value to the lives of vulnerable persons in the country according to our resources and o the best of our ability. Although it is not easy we are doing our part.”

He also expressed displeasure with the way and manner past and present administrations have handled issues concerning vulnerable persons.

“I think past and present governments have lost focus in this area, and so many other interesting areas. There are no plans for them. If there is any plans they are not implemented which is very unfortunate.

“I will appeal to the Christians and Muslims faithful to find a reason to do more for this category of people in our society”, he stated.

Vanguard

The Center for Citizens with Disabilities(CCD) has urged the National Assembly to hasten the confirmation of nominees for the National Disability Commission presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The centre said that this was necessary for the commission to take off fully and discharge its responsibilities to the over 25 million people with disabilities in the country.

Executive Director of the centre, Mr David Anyaele, made the call on Monday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Anyaele noted that the take off of the commission was the first major step towards elevating the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

“The constitution of those who would steer the activities of the commission is the most integral aspect which should not be taken casually.

“The board of the commission would decide the fate of the no fewer than 25 million Nigerians with disabilities.

“The board could either make or mar the envisaged set goals of the commission and jeopardise the interest of all PWDs,’’ he said.

Anyaele noted that the Senate is yet to commence the screening of the commission’s members, months after it was sent to it.

He appealed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawal to prevail on the relevant committee saddled with the screening exercise to hasten the process.

“We appeal to the Senate to treat the screening of the president’s nominees with passion bearing in mind the plights of the no fewer than 25 million PWDs in the country,’’ he added.

He cautioned people with disabilities to ignore anyone claiming to be a member of the board of the commission, as the Senate has not commenced screening of the nominees.

He also urged various organisations championing the cause of persons with disabilities to prevail on the Senate to hasten the screening of the nominees and subsequent take off of the commission.

“We must strive to ensure that all agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of PWDs in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes,’’ Anyaele said.

by Chris Agbo

Step To The Top Leadership Centre (STLC) on 1^st to 3^rd of October, 2020 in Abuja organized a 3-day leadership training workshop for women with disabilities in the FCT.

The workshop is part of the activities of Project Thinkable 2 supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria.

Project Thinkable is a leadership capacity building programme designed to build the capacity of women with disabilities to lead and take charge of their lives.

Simon Nkemdilim Ozioko, the project program officer of the organization while welcoming the participants urged them to take the training serious because it is a life changing opportunity. He also said that Project Thinkable 1 made a lot of impact in the lives of many women with disabilities who benefited from it and as such, he believes strongly that it is going to do the same in their lives.

TQM learnt that the programme is divided into two parts, the training workshop and the community service. The participants are expected to carry out community service as second phase of the programme after the three days training. Therefore, they would be assigned to a mentor each who will guide them to take right decisions before and during their community service.

Oluchi Anih, a participant at the workshop told TQM that she learnt alot, describing the training as being participatory, interactive and engaging.

STLC applied the principle of “nothing about us without us” by engaging members of Project Thinkable 1 as facilitators.

TQM also learnt that the modules, leadership qualities, Personality and people, Personal Vision, Goal setting, Communication, etc were designed to reshape their thinking about their personality and also help to harness their inherent potentials.

They were grouped into 3 and they adopted some slogans such as Unique women, Unique Thinkers and Fabulous Ladies.

The Second Day was remarkable because it was the day the participants were introduced to their mentors. STLC also applied “nothing about us without us” by nominating some women with disabillities as mentors.

The Executive Director of STLC, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu during her speech appreciated the participants for their zeal to learn. She expressed joy that Project Thinkable is achieving the aim of the project. She urged the Participants to be the ones to reach out to their mentors and they should not hesitate to share their challenges with their mentors. She advised them not look down on their mentors because in future, they may be ones mentoring others. She also advised them to make good use of the opportunity because it gears towards building their life changing skills.

A prize was presented to Nnenna Alaukwu for writing 22 reasons why she should show appreciation during one of their sessions.

The Face of Project Thinkable, Miss Okeoghene Jane Akpeva encouraged the participants to be more committed to the programme, assuring them that it is going to add value to their lives just as it did to her and many others who benefited from Project Thinkable 1.

As the participants were departing, the ED, urged them to put in use what they have learnt, ensure they carry out their community service and keep record of their activities. She informed them that STLC would be monitoring their progress but she is convinced that they will do the organization proud and make remarkable impacts in the various communities.

Thirty (30) women and girls with disabilities were trained and they were drawn from different clusters of disability.

SOME PICTURES OF THE WORKSHOP

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Persons with disabilities have appealed to the government, corporate organisations, good spirited individuals and groups to come to their aid to save them the harsh effects of gas flaring in oil producing communities.

The group said that gas flaring not only destroyed the local environment but also worsened the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

They made the appeal, weekend, during a media dialogue with the theme, “Amplifying the Voice of Persons Living with Disabilities in the Climate Change Discuss”, held at Las Hogar Hotels and Suites, Kwale, the administrative headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The event was organised by Persons with Disabilities Action Network (PEDANET) Nigeria with support from the Global Greengrants Fund, with the PEDANET Executive Director, Ubaka Emeka Betram, harping on the need for persons with disabilities to take more active interest in issues that impacted them directly or indirectly, like climate change.

The citizens, made up of men, women and youths with disabilities, lamented that though their various challenges had always meant daily hardships for them, the continued flaring of gas by the oil companies in Ndokwaland has made the effects of the new Coronavirus far more severe, practically making their lives nightmarsh.

They lamented that they were also victims of various health and environmental effects of gas flaring with most of them being unable to move around and go to farms and other places where they earned their daily bread due to flooding and pollution.

One of the resource persons and Founder, Initiative for Cultural Heritage, Chief Osaemenjor Chukwuemeka, noted that most of the people concerned found it very difficult to access hospitals and public places including churches, government offices and even various hotels and centres of learning because persons with disabilities were not taken into consideration in structuring of these public places.

Chukwuemeka, who appealed to “hospitals to assist these special citizens to cover the distressing distance they have to cover to access doctors in hospital clinics”, urged hospitals, hotels and public places to be more sensitive to special needs of persons on wheelchair.

In his presentation on “The Effect of Climate Change in Delta Communities – The 2012 Flood As A Case Study”, Mr Eugene Hyacinth Ossai, a journalist, agriculturist and community development advocate, noted that while people may be grouped into those with physical, mental or other forms of impairment, economic disability affects all segments of the society.

He however, noted that economic disability was far more severe for people with disabilities because they are compelled to add the burden of general economic disability to their natural or circumstantial physical, mental or other forms of disability.

Drawing instances from his personal experience, Comrade Innocent Esume, acting secretary of Persons With Disabilities, Ndokwa Nation, appealed to the government and good spirited individuals to assist persons with disabilities to obtain education, skikls training, jobs and various palliatives that would help them get succour from the harsh effects of the COVID-19.

Speaking on “Organising Civil Society Groups for Effective Engagement on Climate Change/Gas Flaring”, Mr Isaac Botti of the Abuja-based group, Social Action, urged persons living with disabilities to take up the challenge of helping themselves by taking active part in dialogue to engage the authorities in government and corporate organisations, including oil and gas companies, on issues like gas flaring which greatly impacted the environment and climate change.

An environmentalist, Dr Charles Obiechina Olisa, also spoke exhaustively on the interrelationship between climate change and biodiversity, stressing that “no effort should be spared in ensuring that our biodiversity is protected through conscious preservation of our flora resources if our desire to halt the negative impact of climate change would be realized.’

ThisDay

TQM report

Ahead of the October 10, 2020 governorship in Ondo state, The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and the Network for the Advancement of Persons with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), organizations that promote the rights of Persons with Disabilities especially in the electoral process organized a stakeholders roundtable in Akure.  The stakeholders’ roundtable was attended by INEC National Commissioners, Dr. Ogunmola Ladipo Adekunle, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Muazu (Retired), the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju , State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs. A.O. Famuyiwa and the representative of the Ondo state commissioner of Police, Public Relations Officer,  PPR Tee-Leo Ikoro.

The Executive Director of IFA Grace Jerry in her opening speech, appreciated INEC and their commitments towards ensuring the citizens with disabilities vote in the elections. Regarding the most recent Edo state governorship election, she made the following remarks:

• Applauded INEC Nigeria for the deployment of some voting materials in accessible formats to serve voters with disabilities during the elections, and the massive observance of priority voting for all voters with disabilities who voted during the elections.  
• She also lauded INEC for collecting data of PWDs that voted in the election through the use of the Form EC40H by ad-hoc staff.

She however stated that from their observations, and those of organizations like Yiaga Africa,

• The braille ballot guides were deployed to only 38% of polling units.
• The election day written instructions form EC 30E (PWD) were not seen at polling units by PWD voters and various observer groups
• Magnifying glasses were not also seen in many of the polling units.

She recommended that INEC reviews its deployment plan for all materials needed to ensure that voters with disabilities experience more inclusivity compared to Edo.

She also added that INEC should ensure that Sign Language Interpreters are hired to provide sign language services during the INEC stakeholders forum ahead of the elections.

Following her remarks, IFA also formerly presented the disaggregated data of registered voters with disabilities to INEC Nigeria. She added that the data would support INEC to identify the specific polling units that need all materials on the day of election.

In the first session of the roundtable, Dr. Ogunmola Adekunle, appreciated IFA for its partnership with INEC Nigeria through the years to ensure that elections are made more accessible for PWDs. While giving the data to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo state, Dr. Ogunmola confirmed that braille ballot guides and other materials have been produced for the Ondo governorship elections and they would improve on their deployment to ensure that the materials are properly circulated.

After receiving the data, Resident Electoral Commissioner appreciated IFA and the NAPVID for working with various PWD leaders to collect the data. He assured that they would use the data to support their deployment of the polling unit materials.

In the second session of the stakeholders’ roundtable, the Director of the NOA explained in details all the initiative they have carried out within the past weeks to sensitize the communities of PWDs in the state ahead of the election. The session also provided an interactive phase where participants asked questions and got clarification. Also, the sessions also assist PWD leaders to build relationships for post election engagement with the various state actors.

Additionally, the PPR of the Ondo state police force also assured the PWD leaders present that security would be provided and they have been given instructions to protect PWDs during the elections. He also assured that PWDs that would be observing the elections would not be harassed by any police officer. he also advised PWDs to conduct themselves in an oderly manner during the elections and observe all safety rules provided by INEC especially voting with the reality of COVID 19.

The Data for Inclusion program was supported by Voice Nigeria.

MORE PICTURES

On Saturday 3rd October, 2020, The Engraced Ones Prayer Support and Advocacy Initiative organized their 3rd annual Down syndrome and cerebral palsy prayer/advocacy walk. The awareness Walk which was to mark the world cerebral palsy day took off from LEA Primary School, Jikwoyi, Abuja.

The Parents, Caregivers, Professionals, Advocates, Friends, and Media walked through the media roads of Jikwoyi distributing fliers and educating the public about cerebral palsy and downsyndrome.

The founder and the leader of the group,Mrs Biby Yinkere while talking to the press calls for more support from the government and the general public because it is too expensive to cater for children with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual disabilities. She also called on well meaning individuals to sponsor at least a child with intellectual disability in school, she informed that it can only cost One hundred and fifty thousand naira to pay school fees for a year for child with intellectual disability.

She urge the public to be more proactive in encouragement with disability issues especially issues concerning children with disabilities because they have potential like every other child. All they need is our support and care.

She urge the parents of engraced children referring to children with intellectual disabilities to be stronger and more committed towards events and efforts that geared towards welfare of the children.

She expressed her appreciate towards all the attendees for finding time to grace the occasion.

The representative of National Orientation (NOA) Chinwe Ikaraoha (Assistant Director, Special Duties, National Orientation Agency FCT Directorate  in her remark said that it is important that NOA identify with a project like this. Even though the government may not commit money, they are always ready to provide technical support or use their medium to add their voice to the subject. She reassured government commitment towards ensuring that PWDs rights are protected.

Engraced Ones is prayer support and advocacy initiative established in April, 2015 to bring together parents of children with intellectual disabilities and other adults who love these children for the purpose of encouraging parents of the children, educate the public about the condition and advocate for their access to healthcare services, education and other rights. The group as their name implies refer to these children living with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual disabilities as Engraced Ones.

Annual Prayer/advocacy walk to mark The World Cerebral Palsy Day is the group major activities, the edition took place last year 2018 when the group walked from Apo under Bridge to Gudu Market, 2019 edition, the group walked from Karu Market to LEA Primary School Jikwoyi where their School of Grace was launched.

Cerebral Palsy Day is a social movement and a day to celebrate and affirm the lives of the 17 million people living with cerebral palsy (CP). The project was launched in 6^th of October, 2012 by Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Australia) and United Cerebral Palsy (USA). It is supported by over 450 cerebral palsy service organizations, universities, parent groups, research institutions, student groups, schools and children’s hospitals from 65 countries.

Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector has reached an alarming state of decline with nearly one-third of the population lacking access to improved drinking water sources and approximately two-thirds living without adequate sanitation facilities. With one of the fastest-growing urban populations in the world, Nigeria’s municipal centres in particular are likely to face increasing difficulty in meeting the water and sanitation service needs of citizens.

In particular, water supply has been a challenge to successive governments in Niger State. This is so because some of the equipment at the state water works across the state are obsolete and others are in states of disrepair.

Water supply to most urban areas remains a challenge to successive governments in the state because investments and collaboration in the sector, hitherto, is low and continuity in projects which were initiated especially between 1999 and 2007, were abandoned by succeeding governments between 2007 and 2015. This created a huge vacuum.

Access to safe and clean water and sanitation facilities is however a basic right of all people, including people with disabilities the denial of which can have serious implications on their well-being. For example, inaccessible toilet and water facilities are major contributing factors for school dropout among children with disabilities, especially girls.

Access to clean water and basic sanitation is a right also guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Also, meeting the basic needs increases self-reliance of individuals and provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to contribute to the family and community in the following ways:

Having a clear understanding of the disabilities within the target population

Inclusion of the specific needs of people with disabilities in access and use of WASH facilities and services

Advocacy and support to policy development and capacity building of WASH professionals in recognizing and responding to the specific needs of people with disabilities

Paying specific attention to disability in WASH in school programmes: Effective WASH in schools programmes seek to remove barriers by promoting inclusive design. Toilets and washstands, for example, need to be customised to meet the wide range of needs of children with disabilities.

Water supply to major cities of Minna, Bida, Kontagora, Suleja, New Bussa and a host of other semi urban centres have posed a lot of challenges to the present government.

For instance, in Minna, the state capital, new settlements have emerged without reticulations, while the water works in the capital city have not witnessed major turnaround maintenance in years with obsolete equipment being used until between 2016 and 2019 when the government made some investment on the water works.

The present government, however, has decided to take the gauntlet in order to change the narratives through granting semi autonomy to the water corporation through a new law.

The Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, had, on May 20th, 2020, signed into law, a new water and sanitation bill, which ushered in a new collaboration that would transform the former Niger State Water Board to Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation with the hope for more efficiency in service delivery.

Enacted to improve urban water delivery and sanitation services, the new corporation is supported by USAID, through its Effective Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (E-WASH) activity and Connected Development (CODE), a leading civil society organisation, led by its executive director, Hamzat Lawal, through its ‘Improving Nigeria Urban WASH Service Delivery Project” facilitated by the organisation to support urban WASH reform in Niger State through multidimensional engagement and mobilisation.

The restructuring of the water management entity into a corporation will help provide services more effectively in urban areas of Niger State.

“This is a new dawn for our water supply in Niger State,” said Alhaji Abubakar Idris Sadiq, permanent secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Dams Development. “Now, we can boldly say we have an autonomous Water and Sewage Corporation that will supply potable water to our people and help improve sanitation. USAID has played a pivotal role in making this law a reality.”

The secretary to Niger State government, SSG Ahmed Matane, who performed the unveiling of the corporation, said that the intention of the government was to create a semi-autonomous entity that would provide quality water.

The SSG said the new idea was to promote efficiency on service delivery to the people by providing quality water to all the people of the state.

Suleiman Yusuf, commissioner for water and dam development, said the people should expect more quality service with the new corporaration.

“What Nigerlites should expect is far more than they had before, now the water will come as frequent but the public should be ready to pay for the services they enjoy.”

He said that there was collaboration with the USAID E -WASH to boost water supply and with the new board chaired by Inuwa Musa Kuta, the people should not expect less.

The chairman of the corporation, Inuwa Musa Kuta, said the corporation, as an entity, would hold themselves accountable before holding the staff accountable, saying that in a few months, there would be significant difference from the way it used to be.

The managing director, Hassan Mohammed Chado, said the corporation would do its best based on the necessary support received, assuring that they would serve the people better.

The renewed effort was further engineered based on the fact that Niger State was one of the six states to benefit from USAID’s support through the E-wash programme.

The core vision of the programme was to make Niger State Water Corporation a professionally managed and commercialised entity.

Consequently, the state government has upgraded the power supply system and also upgraded the laboratory for testing the quality of water supplied to the people, customer care unit to get feedback.