As part of Mimijean Foundation for women and children with
disabilities partnership with Tranquil Youth Organization of Nigeria (TYON) in
youth development and capacity building, TYON on Saturday embarked on their third
visit to JKS Orphanage homes, Kubwa.
The group during the presentation of the food items to the
orphanage assured them that the visit will be continuous and it is a gesture to
support the humanitarian work by the owners of the home.
The CEO and founder of Mimijean Foundation, Beatrice Mube
who led the group to the home appreciated the group for the initiative of
reaching out to the less privileged and prayed to God to reward them
accordingly.
She reassured that her foundation will always be available
to work with the group to reach out to the less privileged and also in capacity
building of women with disabilities.
The items donated to the home were cartoons of indomie noodles, sachets of spaghetti and bags of rice.
The Federal Government has been urged to improve its COVID-19 interventions response in health, humanitarian, and gender sectors to meet the needs of Women living with disabilities in many states across Nigeria.
Facilitators who spoke at the one-day National Policy Dialogue with the theme “improving the responsiveness of COVID-19 interventions in Health, Humanitarian and Gender Sectors in Nigeria to the needs of Women with Disabilities”, noted that disability inclusion were missing in the COVID-19 intervention and relief programmes.
The facilitators, Ekatte Judith Umoh of FACICP disability plus, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo of HORDC, Sola Abe of Women deliver, highlighted the exclusion of women living with disabilities from the intervention programmes by the government during the coronavirus pandemic.
The virtual dialogue, convened by BONews service in collaboration with FACICP disability plus, also had in attendance, representatives of Mrs. Sadiya Umar Faroq, Dame Pauline Tallen respectively.
Delivering his speech, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, spoke around the humanitarian matters that arose from the lockdown, issues with health and gender issues.
He noted that persons with disabilities were not included in the various humanitarian programmes despite their level of vulnerability. Loss of livelihood, exclusion, children with disabilities not taking part in e-learning programmes amongst others were problems he also highlighted as being faced by women living with disabilities.
Also, Ekaete Umoh, the Executive Director FACICP disability plus, expressed worry that a high percentage of women in Nigeria were vulnerable to illnesses, disability and even death due to lack of access to comprehensive health services, a situation that has made the country one of the highest in maternal mortality rates amongst developing nations.
In a similar vein, Sola Abe, a Journalist and young leader women deliver, spoke about the activities of FACICP online situation room for women with disabilities, this was created to help women with disabilities for the purpose of interaction as a virtual safe space. She noted that the situation room also was aimed at developing comprehensive database on experiences with disabilities on the impact of COVID-19 situation.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq who was ably represented by Hon Danjuma Attah, said, “We know that PWDs are the most vulnerable in the society, we have set up COVID-19 committees which would include WWDs to enable us proffer solutions that are disability specific.”
According to the moderator, Blessing Oladunjoye, this project is being carried out by BONews Service, an online development news platform in collaboration with FACICP Disability Plus with support from Urgent Action Fund.
Oladunjoye explained that “FACICP had set up an online Situation Room for the tracking and monitoring of experiences and situations of WWDs with regards their access to, and inclusion in the various COVID-19 relief programs in their respective jurisdictions.
“These reports have been harvested and that is what has formed the crux of this National Policy Dialogue so that the issues raised by these women can be presented to the relevant Ministries which we believe would receive adequate attention.”
Mr. Obinna Ekujereonye making a presentation to the Registrar of COREN, Joseph Odigure
Nigeria Association for the Blind(NAB) FCT Chapter on
Thursday in Abuja urged the leadership of COREN to liaise with other critical
stakeholders to review of National Building Code because it was last reviewed
in 2006 so it is obsolete and it didn’t take in cognizance the priority needs
of Nigeria with disabilities.
This statement was made by the Chairman of the Chapter, Mr
Obinna Ekujereonye during the group advocacy visit to the Registrar, COREN.
In his speech, he said that their visit to COREN is all
about implementing Disability Rights Fund sponsored Project which geared
towards access to public infrastructure by persons with disabilities.
According to him, access to public infrastructure is important
to the entire persons with disabilities in Nigeria in the sense that it is
affecting their economic activities.
“Persons with disability suffers a great deal of accessing
public offices. You can see one of us who is on wheelchair found it difficult
to join the meeting and that lead to change of venue and it is a practical example
of why we are here for advocacy visit; In this same vein, persons with
disabilities loose out in opportunities because of inaccessible places almost
everywhere in our country” he stated.
Speaking further, he said that it is as a result of this that the group decided to venture into the project. He informed that the group have carried out some activities, such as accessibility audit of public infrastructures in the FCT. The survey was done for the group to have evidence based data to engage the critical stakeholders. The survey affords the group the opportunity to audit some public infrastructures such as University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, School of Nursing Gwagwalada, National Open University airport road, Idu Metro lane, Peace Mass Transit, ABC transport and God is Good Motor and some MDAs; none of them have up to 60-70% accessibility in their places. That is too bad for persons with disabilities and as a result all the facts and figures gathered and put into a booklet for reference purpose.
He called for the review of the Nigeria building code saying
as regulators of the building and construction in Nigeria, they should lead the
process of reviewing the building code. It was reviewed last in 2006, it is
already obsolete.
“I can’t even imagine any person, most of you here that
drove car in 2006 and are still driving it up till now. The phone you started
using around 2002/2003, nobody can use it any longer. Certainly they have
become outdated and obsolete. But we are still using a building code of 2006.
In these building code we found out that from the review that the building code
is inaccessible for persons with disabilities. The language used there were
derogatory and the code talked about only ramps as if it is only that makes a
building disability friendly” he said.
He informed that 15% of Nigerian population that is 27 to 30
million Nigerians are persons with disabilities, the number is not a push over,
they should be given attention. Something should be done about the building
code and all public buildings should have facilities to make it disability
friendly. Any building 2 or 3 storey building should have a lift.
“Discrimination against persons with disabilities”
Prohibition” Act 2018 also talked about accessibility, existing buildings
should be adjusted and new buildings must conform to the provisions of the act;
all these have not been happening”.
He demanded that persons with disabilities be employed in
the council to meet up with the 5% employment opportunity as it is stipulated
in the Nigeria disability act.
He presented to the registrar recommendations from the
review of the building code as well as the accessibility audit findings with
the Project T.shirt, saying that the
recommendations are the changes that they want to see in the reviewed National
Building code.
“We are ready to come in any place, any time you call us to
come in and shed more light for good of our people because there is nothing
about us without us” he concluded.
The Registrar of COREN, Joseph Odigure in his response, said that
no nation progress without taking care of the weak. God never created anybody
without a potential.
He appreciated the group for coming to remind them of the problem, appreciating the fact they cannot shy away from the lots of mistakes in conceptualizing infrastructure development and very importantly in regulating the development engineering infrastructures in Nigeria. It is really disheartening that the building code was last looked at in 2006.
He informed that the council have already established department known as standards a unit under engineering standards regulation and monitoring that is in charge of standards to make sure we pay more attention to development of standards and codes for our building not just building also regulating engineering activities in Nigeria.
“We have an educational system that largely doesn’t even
understand what is standards and codes and
what is important of these codes in national development and that is why
as a body the regulatory council, we are also working intensively on converting
our regulating engineering accreditation system from what we know as
traditional teaching of engineering subjects to the outcome based engineering
subjects, like what you just said now it borders on how do we make our
engineering society friendly, how do we make the courses we are teaching at the
university are society friendly” he said.
He apologized that their building is not accessible and
informed that the building was bought by COREN as a residential building and
converted to an office, he promised that their new permanent site must conform.
He also promised that the council will make provision for
PWDs in the next employment, the advert will be extended to the group to help
source PWDs who wishes to apply and once they are qualified, they will be
employed.
“I want to assure you that I will look into the proposal you
have brought and we will work with the corresponding agency of government
particularly SON to work on the building code, infact we are reviewing the building
code right now and there is a committee in SON that is trying to breakdown the
entire document to make into codes. COREN is working on the regulation of those
aspects right now so that we try to review those existing codes and of course
ensure the safety of our engineering infrastructures” he said.
He promised to suggest to the building code reviewing
committee to extend invitation to the group to make input.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Hon James Lalu as the Executive Secretary of the newly established National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019 has been described as a novel idea.
Nothing can be better than what has been achieved as a result of the struggle for equal rights and better opportunities for People with Disability in Nigeria over the years.
The collective expectations of People with Disability that the appointee represents has cone as a result of your track record of achievements as the Chairman of the Plateau State Disability Commission where you performed creditably.
I am sure that as the Commission’s pioneer Executive Secretary you can surpass the achievements you made in Plateau State and also make the state proud in this new appointment.
Lalu is a member, representing Persons with Disabilities in the APC Caretaker Committee/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee.
SENATOR HEZEKIAH A DIMKA, Senator representing Plateau Central Zone and Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics
The Union of Igbos with Disabilities has heartily appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the appointment of officials of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities which two Igbos with Disabilities were appointed.
In a press statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Agbo Christian Obiora, the group is happy that Mr. President appointed two of it’s executive members, the National President Okparaku Onyejelam Jaja and the National Treasurer, Philomena Isioma Konwea representing southeast and south south respectively in the board of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
The group expressed their happiness for the honour done to them by Mr. President and they are more excited that President did not only stop at signing the Disability bill into law but also establishing a commission.
The group assured the president, disability community and the public that the two Igbos in the board will not disappoint but will live up to the expectations and even beyond because they have always exhibit impeccable integrity and hardwork.
“Mr. President, Igbos with Disabilities and the entire sons and daughters of Igbo extraction are happy with you for these appointments” they expressed.
The group also thanked in a special way the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiah Sadiya Umar Farouq for keeping to her words, Senator Osita Izunaso for his unwavering support for the disability community and all the compatriots who fought tirelessly for 20 years for the actualization of National Disability Law.
The Union of Igbos with Disabilities is an association of PWDs of Igbo extraction wherever they are, both home and abroad for the purpose of fighting for a better living for Igbos with Disabilities.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari on the composition of the governing council of the newly-established National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019.
In a statement signed by The party Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party welcomed in particular the appointment of Mr. James Lalu as the commission’s Executive Secretary.
Lalu is Member, representing Persons with Disabilities in the APC Caretaker Committee/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee.
Indeed, this is a welcome reward following many years of struggle by the Disabled Community in Nigeria for a Commission.
They recalled that President Buhari signed into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, following many years of relentless advocacy by disability rights groups and activists.
According to the World Health Organization, about 15 percent of Nigeria’s population, or at least 25 million people, have a disability. Many of them face a number of human rights abuses including stigma, discrimination, violence, and lack of access to healthcare, housing, and education.
Notably, the APC as a party and government has been at the forefront of including and mainstreaming marginalised groups in governance and other facets of our national life.
The party stated that the President’s establishment of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and subsequent appointment of deserving officials to run the commision is another laudable step in empowering Persons with Disabilities.
The party assured that it remains a home for Persons with Disabilities giving them hope in party politics and Governance. The party is working on Constitution amendment to strengthen the rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Party.
They also commended the passion of the supervising Minister Haj. Sadiya Umar Farouq for championing the establishment of the Commission and disability inclusion in governance by reserving 10% opportunities in N-Power and Minister of Labor for approving 10% in the ongoing public world Programme of the Buhari Administration
The party resolved to continue to promote the rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities and all vulnerable groups in Nigeria in the spirit of Progressives.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong and Chairman, Northern Governors has welcomed the re-election of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
In a congratulatory message, Governor Lalong described the development as another testimony of the hardwork dedication and diligence of Dr. Adesina who has demonstrated to the world that the Nigerians have the capacity to deliver on any assignment.
Lalong said the re-election of Adesina despite attempts to discredit him and tarnish his reputation is a proof that he is honest and has the best interest of the continent at heart.
He said “we in Plateau State are very proud to be associated with the African Development Bank under the leadership of Dr. Adesina. Through counterpart funding assistance from the bank, we are revolutionizing potaton and assorted vegetables farming in Plateau and creating the value chain that has improved the capacity of our farmers to improve their production and also earn more. We are on the verge of consolidating our advantage as the major supplier of the commodity to West Africa”.
Governor Lalong wished Dr. Adesina a fruitful tenure and asked him to remain focused as he leads the bank towards contributing to the emancipation of the African continent.
In a similar development, Governor Simon Lalong says he is delighted with the appointment of Mr. James Lalu as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Disability Rights Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Governor Lalong while reacting to the development said he was not surprised by the choice of Mr. James Lalu given his track record of achievements as the Chairman of the Plateau State Disability Commission where he performed creditably, which earned him recognition from within and outside the country.
He said ” I urge the Executive Secretary and entire management as well as the board of the Commission to devote their time and energies in serving the constituency of people living with disabilities who are more often than not forgotten and neglected. As pioneer managers of this Commission, you must serve the interest of all people living with one form of disability or the other, and ensure that you do justice to all, stand by the truth and be honest”.
He asked the Executive Secretary to surpass his achievements in Plateau State and also make the State proud in this national assignment.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
28th August 2020.
Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC), has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his effort towards ensuring the implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 through the appointment of members of the Governing Council of the National Disability Commission and congratulated the newly appointed members and the Executive Secretary.
In a press release signed by The Executive Director of DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu, the group described it as a huge step in the fulfillment of Nigeria’s obligations towards ensuring equal treatment and full participation of persons with disabilities in the country.
“The news of the appointments of the Executive Secretary and members of the Governing Council came to DRAC with great excitement having been active in mobilizing efforts towards the creation of the National Commission through targeted advocacy. Constituting this Governing Council shows the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards improving the status of persons with disabilities in Nigeria who deserve to live and function on an equal basis with others” they expressed.
As one of the leading organization championing the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities, they affirmed their committment towards supporting the Commission and the Executive Secretary Hon. James Lalu in advancing reforms that will eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in all spheres of life.
In their excitement, they look forward to the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 while wishing the members of the Governing Council a successful term in office.
The Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Imo State Chapter has congratulated Mr Jaja Oparaku Onyejelam on his appointment into the National Disability Commission, South East by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In press statement signed by the Secretary of the group, Hon. Jude Okparaeke, the group lauded President Buhari for approving the appointment of members of the board of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) which Jaja was found worthy to be included.
The group appreciated the roles of disability advocates who were at the forefront throughout the 20 years of struggle especially the likes Sen. Osita Izunaso, Mazi David Anyaele, Chief Eric Ufom and many others.
They urged Onyejelam and Philomena Isioma Kenwea who are from the Igbo extraction to see their appointments as members of the Commission as a call to serve.
