Yvonne Jack is a newly married woman on wheelchair, she
hails from Plateau State.
She had a car accident in 2005 that led to her disability
and she could not school in Nigeria anymore because of the facilities are not
accessible to wheel chair users.
According to her on discrimination, she said that people think if one is on a wheel chair, the persons’ world is finished, and they think the person cannot do anything for himself or herself.
She advised PWDs especially women with disabilities to
believe in themselves and she believed in herself and have no doubt that she is
beautiful woman even with disability and that was how she got the handsome
caring man that just wedded her.
On how the discrimination is affecting her, she said this “I
don’t think of what people will say, people will always talk, I always do the
best I can”.
She believes that parents
should look for better ways protect their children with disabilities from abuse
and neglect.
Appreciating the TQM, she spoke in these words “Thank you
for the good work, taking your time to help persons with disabilities tell
their stories. Please keep the good work”.
On 8th August, 2020. Yvonne wedded a handsome young man in a grand wedding ceremony in Jos, Plateau State.
In these coming days, we will bring to you details of her story and how she met her husband.
This story is part of The Qualitative Magazine Project “CONNECTING OUR VOICES TO THE WORLD”-propagating the potentials and challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Plateau State supported by VOICE NIGERIA
Alfred Ehime Olowookere is an architect and an accountant with disability from Edo State but working and reside in Jos, Plateau State, He is 52 years old, married with three kids and despite his disability, he is well educated. This eloquent and smooth talking polio survivor studied architecture first and later dabbled into the field of accountancy as an alternative to architecture because of rigorous activities involved in practicing architecture due to his physical disability and inaccessibility of the environment that made it practically impossible for him to practice.
In an interactive chat
with Chris Agbo, ED, The Qualitative Magazine TQM, he shared his experience while
going to school, employment challenges and other challenges faced by persons
with disabilities (PWDs).
Agbo: So you were not able to operate as an architect because of your
disability and lack of access to your environment. It is quite understandable that
the stress you are facing in moving around was actually created by the society
because our government have not seen reasons to make the environment more
inclusive even with the existing laws that have given them mandates, it is
unfortunate that it was why you had to quit your most loved profession and had
to go into something else that will keep you in one place to make ends meet. The
decision was a giant stride on your part and it is also a clear indication that
inaccessibility of public infrastructures affects persons with disabilities
negatively.
Agbo: How did your disability occur?
Yeah, it was polio at the age of 5 and I can’t really say
how it came. All I knew was I grew up and saw myself in this condition and I
had a father and mother who cared so much for me. My father was a military
officer, a colonel in the army and my mother is a lawyer so they were able to
cater for me till I finished my University education. They encouraged me to
choose a course of my dream but the actual fact is that the disability really
restricted me a lot in the sense that even when I was at the primary school I
have to be given some special considerations. In my primary school we were 4
physically challenged persons in Command children’s school Jaji. Myself, Ini
Osoro and two others were given that special considerations in the sense that
even when our class room were supposed to be upstairs in the arm we belong to,
they brought our classes downstairs for us and the same thing happened in
Federal Government College, Kaduna, where I schooled. In my class when in was
in JSS 3, I was supposed to be upstairs but because of my condition, our class
was brought down for me and Samuel Ajidawu to avoid the stress of climbing the
stairs but when I was at University of Jos, I had to experience a different
scenario because the University will not bring down the lecture room from
upstairs to downstairs so I had to encourage myself throughout. We were few
physically challenged persons in my department and one of the girls had to drop
out from school because she couldn’t withstand the challenges but I had to
endure till the end.
Agbo: So one of the physically challenged person had to drop out
because of the inaccessibility of the school facilities at University of Jos?
whoa!!! Whoa!!! Whoa!!! That’s a very
tough one, so in your primary and secondary levels you didn’t have so much problem
but the problem was at the University level?
Yes!
Agbo: So what it means is that lack of access is an issue we must address. You have said that your father saw you through school, then apart from this, you had issue of access in your university days. What are other challenges or maybe other discriminations that you faced, is there any?
Yes, I remembered when I applied for a banking job and after the second interview. We had a written and oral interview, my name was removed from the list of those qualified even when I know that I was among the best five (5) in that interview because they also confirmed it. After then I had to do something to understand properly what they were doing whether it is my disability that was counting against me, I had to apply for the position of a chief security officer in that same organization and I was selected and contacted to come based on my resume and immediately they saw my resume, they were excited that they have gotten the best man for the position but immediately I appeared, they told me No that there was a mix up in the name somewhere and that was how I was dropped. So the moment they see you on clutches or wheelchair they just believe you are a liability to their organization or you are there to slow them down, I concluded that if this is the case, I become a serious advocate of entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. Entrepreneurship trainings for people with disabilities because we will actually do better as employers of labour instead of being job seekers. It can turn the table around and things will surely work out for us. I see people with disabilities being CEOs of big farms, CEOs of big companies, accounting firms, architectural firms.
Agbo: To you, this is one of the solutions, you think can work to curb unemployment among persons with disabilities.
Yes! but it may not be the only solution.
Agbo: Yes, because there should be reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities in workplcace because they also deserve to work. I understand your submission quiet well, it is in order but we still don’t rule out the possibility of the organizations to create an enabling environment for PWDs because we don’t need to create a world of our own, we are part of the world, there should be an inclusive society. Everyone must be part of it, so that is what we should be promoting more now but what you said can be looked into but is good for us to discuss it as our inward strategy and try to engage ourselves with things that can make us employers of labour but when speaking to the public, we have to make them understand that they have to create enabling environment for us to work anywhere we want to work. As an entrepreneur, you also need to move around. It is a very insightful one and I am so happy you shared it with me. I may ask, is there any other discriminations that you think that PWDs are facing apart from the ones you faced especially those that didn’t go to school, those in the hinterland, those who did not have the kind of opportunities you had, what do you think they are passing through and what can be done to address them?
Let me start with people who did not have the opportunity go to school, you can see that they didn’t go to school and learning a trade is the only option they have but that depends on the kind of disabilities they have or level of disability, there are some that can make use of their hands very well but the legs are their challenges and there are ones that can use their legs very effectively but their hands are their challenges and they are some without the hands and legs while some are autistic so we need to look at it from that angel, but based on the question, I am going to make a holistic statement that those who didn’t go to school will have to be trained in one vocation or the other depending on the level and kind of the disability person has. Secondly for those people from the hinterland who don’t have access to any of these things, you will discover that they are always coming to the cities with the only option of begging for alms and we have to remove this stigma because I have had an experience one time, I was at a bus stop trying to board a Keke Napep and a woman came to me and was handing 50naira to me thinking I am a beggar.
Agbo: So the public have now generalized it as if any person with disability is a beggar?
Immediately we entered the Keke Napep togrther because we were going towards the same direction, in our way I decided to prove to the woman that not all persons with disabilities are beggars, so I brought out 1000naira and paid for her fee and obviously she didn’t have up to the 1000naira on her. She was impressed and ended up apologizing to me. PWDs need to see how we can meet as a group to make the public begin to see us as people who have potentials and not beggars. The disability is only a condition not an obstacle for persons with disabilities. PWDs are living beyond it with hardwork and determination, it is never a hindrance to one’s success.
Agbo: you have really delve into my next question because I was about
to ask you, what are your advice for persons with disabilities because earlier,
you were talking about so many of them being beggars so it really occurred to me
that they actually need special people like you to motivate them or tell them
the best ways to live their lives. You have said something on it but let’s
still have more things you will say on that?
The only thing I will add is that we should be given opportunities
in terms of trainings, secondly access to funding, let me give an example, N
POWER programme that they pegged the age at 35, what will happen to PWDs who
are above 35, they were excluded from these opportunities, so I believe that
the government should look into it because most people who their disability are
as a result of polio.
Their age range is slightly above 35 because the polio virus infection was very rampant during the 70s and early 80s, so when you now screen them out, are you saying that these people should struggle on their own till the end, knowing fully well that majority of them didn’t have higher degree certificates, never had opportunities of accessing good health services, never had the opportunities of accessing government funding, so I will implore that government should look into the category of this particular group, so that they can have their hands in something, having them trained or established in one area or the other, at the end of the day Nigeria will be far better for it, this way you will have less dependency on people, less beggars on the street and more PWDs providing for their families.
Agbo: That’s very insightful and you have also delved into my very next question which is your advice to the government but you have touched it, so what is your advice to the general public. As persons with disabilities we understands that the greatest challenge of people with disabilities are facing is the public perceptions, it was the perception that made somebody on seeing you just handed 50naira to you. Our problems are caused by the society because if the society would accept the persons with disabilities the way they are; the society would be a better place. It is perception that will make a family to reject a person with disability from marrying their daughter or son, and are many more examples. So what do you have to tell the general public about persons with disabilities?
Persons with disabilities are like every other person, we have the blood running in our system, we have the same brains, we have the same rights and we are staying in the same environment, so we are actually accessing the same air, so we are like every other person. There is an adage in my language that says you don’t throw away the baby with the dirty water, now based on this fact the community or the society should accept and understand that we are part of the community and that we have our own quota to contribute to the development of the society, so they should see us as people that are challenged but with little assistance, we can excel in every field of endeavors and become victors.
Agbo: How lucrative has your job been? I mean the Job you are doing
right now.
Well I have to say It is lucrative not in terms of finance but in the terms of self-satisfaction, I derive satisfaction in doing what I do. I am happy, it takes care of me, my family and I still give out stipends to those living around me who really need it. I thank God so much in spite of the disability, I am able to render help to some people.
Agbo: Thank you, thank you so much my brother, I must say I’m very grateful to have chatted with you.
Chris Agbo and Alfred Ehime Olowookere after their chat in our office in Jos, Plateau State
This story is part of The Qualitative Magazine Project “CONNECTING OUR VOICES TO THE WORLD”-propagating the potentials and challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Plateau State supported by VOICE NIGERIA
GENDER AND DISABILITY INCLUSION ADVOCACY CENTER (GADIAC) have
congratulated the Disability Community on the the creation of National
Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and it’s Governing
Council after 20 years of struggle.
In a press release signed by Rabi Yusuf Gezawa, the Executive Director, the group said that President Muhammadu Buhari have broken a record, they appreciated and prayed for him.
They called on Nigerians with Disabilities to unite, abstain from all negative attitudes and comments. PWDs should live by example, PWDs are Men and Women of integrity, let them show the world that they can deliver, let them show some high level of appreciation by working together to make the commission beneficial to PWDs especially those at the grassroot who suffers the most.
“We must not forget how much and how long we have suffered to get this commission. Starting from the formulation of the bill, to the passage of the bill into Prohibition against discrimination Act (2018)” they reminded.
GADIAC urged PWDs to take responsibility , make use of this golden opportunity by showing some patriotism and passion for the work for a better result.
They also urged government not to relent in their full support to this commission by making the appropriate budgeting for the running of the commission.
Change only happens when ordinary people or vulnerable groups get Involved in decisions making
the words of Comr. Mohammed Abba Isa, The APC Zonal Disable leader Northeast Yobe State excitingly reacting to the approval of the appointment of the members of the governing board of the National Commission of Persons with disabilities.
Comrade in a statement to TQM said that President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has done so much to Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria by given the sense of belonging.
“On behalf of my humble self and the entire Persons with Disabilities in Northeast wishes to extend our appreciation to Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for finding us worthy to establish National Commission for Persons Disabilities and appointment of Chairman,Members of Council and Executive Secretary of the Commission” he said.
Persons with Disabilities suffer worst during PDP administration and Northeast has the highest number of PWDs as a result of Boko Haram crisis many people become disabled, he added.
He also wish to express his profound gratitude to all members in struggling, development partner for building the capacity of Disabled Peoples Organisations to engage in championing the course of action.
He lauded the gesture of President Muhammad Buhari describing it as safeguarding the life of 27million Persons with Disabilities.
He called on Persons with Disabilities in the Northeast and Nigeria at large in respective of our political differences to continue given support and ensure the success of this administration stating that together PWDs will witness better days and surely see through the PWDs through in Nigeria.
The former governor of Nasarawa State and Senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura has congratulated the over 30 million Nigerians with different kinds of disabilities on the establishment and appointment of executive members of Disabilities Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sen. Al-Makura while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2019 last year which provides for the establishment of the Commission noted that President Muhammadu Buhari by approving the appointment of the Executive Secretary, Chairman and members of the Council of the Commission has once again, proved his commitment and desire to improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups in Nigeria and ensure they enjoy their full rights and privileges as citizens of Nigeria.
Sen. Al-Makura who could not hide his appreciation, also expressed happiness and fulfillment as one of the people with disabilities. That his group now have a commission and executives in place to cater for their needs, protect their rights and provide an enabling environment for them to maximize their potentials, thrive and contribute valuably to the society and the nation as a whole.
Sen. Al-Makura also remembered with nostalgia some times in the year 2012 when he led people with disabilities on a one million match to the National Assembly on the need to expedite all legislative processes on the passage of Disabilities Law. Today, is a dream come true for Senator Al-Makura. He therefore thanked the National Assembly for the passage of the Law.
The functions of the Commission includes: the formulation and implementation of policies and guidelines as appropriate for the education and social development of persons with disabilities, preparation of schemes designed to promote social welfare of persons with disabilities, promoting and uplifting the general well being of persons with disabilities by encouraging the public to change their negative attitude towards persons with disabilities.
The global campaign to eradicate Wild Polio Virus (WPV) cost $17billion, the Chairman of the Nigeria National Polioplus Committee of Rotary International Dr Tunji Funsho said yesterday.
Of the said sum, Funsho said Rotary International alone, committed $2.2billion, and expended $298m in 15 years, to combat and eradicate the deadly wild poliovirus in Nigeria.
This is coming as Nigeria is set to join three other African countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, and South Sudan – to get a WPV-free certification by the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) yesterday.
He, however, said more needs to be done concerning routine immunisation, as a handful of states were still under-performing in this respect.
In an interview in Abuja, he said: “Myself, the National Polioplus Committee, and all the Rotarians in Nigeria feel a deep sense of accomplishment and relief. At the same time, we must remind ourselves that we have not gotten to the full stop in our wild poliovirus eradication; it is just a comma. We are looking forward to a time when we can say that the job is done and no child is paralysed by the wild poliovirus.
“When we’re talking about funding, we have surpassed our deadline of the year 2000; we have gone another 20 years and that has its attendant costs which has increased the cost of this effort to almost $19bn and still counting because we have not eradicated polio from the world.
“Rotary has spent at least $2.2bn out of the $17bn on polio eradication worldwide. In Nigeria alone, in the last 15 years, we have expended about $298 million on the programme and we expect that we will still need some funds.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians and Africa on the declaration of ending Wild Polio Virus (WPV) by the Independent Regional Commission for Certification of Polio Eradication.
The governor’s congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, on Tuesday in Kano.
Ganduje said: “While the situation of the disease prevalence with Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan a few years back, was evident, we did our best to see to the end of the menace here in Nigeria. We thank God that we attained this position now.
“As Deputy Governor then, when I was heading the state committee in the fight against polio, we worked very hard with the traditional institutions, religious leaders and other stakeholders which helped in reaching our Polio-Free position today.”
The statement quoted the governor as commending a traditional ruler, Wada Aliyu-Gaya and Dr Abubakar Labaran, a former Commissioner of Health for their sacrifices as front line elements toward ensuring total eradication of the disease.
Ganduje also congratulated President Buhari, as the nation climbed the appreciable position during his administration and also previous administrations for the role they played.
“It was indeed the collective effort towards eradicating the menace that helped immensely in attaining this position”, the governor said. (NAN )
Sadiya Umar Farouq, Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has announced the take off the National Disability Commission following the approval of the appointment of the Executive Members of the Commission by Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Monday 24th of August 2020.
In a statement in Abuja on the 24th of August 2020 signed by Halima Oyelade SA, Strategic Communications, the Honourable Minister said since her appointment in 2019, she had reiterated her commitment to following up to ensure the take-off of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. She stated that ‘’Today is a very happy and fulfilling day for me as one of the vulnerable groups that are close to my heart finally have a Commission and Executives in place to cater to their needs, protect their rights and provide an enabling environment for them to maximize their potentials, thrive and contribute valuably to the society and the Nation as a whole.
Sadiya Umar Farouq while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for accenting to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2019 last year which provides for the establishment of the Commission noted that; ‘’His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari by approving the appointment of the Executive Secretary, Chairman and members of the Council of the Commission has once again, proved his commitment and desire to improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups in Nigeria and ensure they enjoy their full rights and privileges as citizens of Nigeria’’.
She congratulated the over 30 million Persons Living with Disabilities in Nigeria on this giant milestone and charged them to maximize the platform that has been provided for them. ‘’I congratulate our brothers and sisters living with disabilities in Nigeria for the realization of this worthy dream and encourage you to make use of the opportunity this Commission provides you to be united in the pursuit of your dreams of social inclusion’’ the Minister stated.
The Honourable Minister also congratulated the appointed executives and charged the Chairman and members of Council as well as the Executive Secretary to carry out their responsibilities with due diligence and to the best of their ability. Saying that ‘’ I congratulate you heartily and urge you to consider it a privilege to serve as the first executives of this Commission and therefore put in your best to lay a solid foundation for the Commission bearing in mind that the well being of over 30 million persons living with disabilities in Nigeria largely depends on your actions and the way you discharge your duty’’.
Once the Senate confirms the appointments, the Commission will take-off accordingly. ‘’The functions of the Commission include; the formulation and implementation of policies and guidelines as appropriate for the education and social development of persons with disabilities, preparation of schemes designed to promote social welfare of persons with disabilities, promoting and uplifting the general well being of persons with disabilities by encouraging the public to change their negative attitude towards persons with disabilities.’’ The Minister concluded.
The Board, leadership and members of Arewa Disability Forum (ADF) is pleased to send her warmest, heartfelt and profound congratulation on your appointment as Executive Secretary and administrative head of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) which has just been constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
Arewa Disability Forum recognizes and appreciate your extensive experience and leadership prowess demonstrated in your previous positions including as two term special Adviser to Plateau state governor on disability affairs, former member and Chairman Plateau state disability right commission, former representative of persons with disability at All Progressive Congress national convention and presently as National Disable leader. We have no doubt that with this versatility of experience and leadership at both state and national, you are poised to providing exemplary leadership to the Community of persons with disabilities in the country, especially in fast- tracking national Integration, Development and sustaining disability inclusion in politics.
ADF once again recognizes that your coming at a challenging time however; we admonish you to use all the instrumentality of your office to bring lasting peace to the leadership crisis bedeviling our Umbrella body JONAPWD. We will strengthen our resolve and be more innovative to work with you and the Commission in ensuring that peace in disability community is sustainable.
Dr James just like one plus one naturally makes two, your new job easily found a deserving contender like you. Also always remember that it wasn’t destiny that got you a new job, it was your courage and desire to make your own destiny that pushed you forward.
Once again kindly accept the congratulations of all our members; we look forward for a rewarding engagement..
ADF is disability led Association with membership across all the nineteen northern state with headquarter at Kaduna
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) welcomed with joy the news of the approval of the composition of the Governing Council and appointment of Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in line with the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 by President Mohammadu Buhari.
In a press release sent to The Qualitative Magazine TQM, The Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele said the approval of this list of Board members of the NCPWD is a clear statement that the Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced full implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 also known as the National Disability Act.
The approval of the composition of the Governing Council, Executive Secretary, and subsequent dispatch to the National Assembly for screening is in fulfilment of section 33.3. of the National Disability Act which provides that the Chairman of the Council and one representative each from the 6 geo-political zones shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.
He appreciated President Buhari for taking this bold step in the implementation of this Act through the approval of the composition of the leadership of the Commission.
Speaking further, he urged President Buhari to take appropriate measure to ensure that the budget of the NCPWD features in the 2021 appropriation to avoid financial hiccups in the take off the Commission.
“We are approaching the last quarter of 2020. Without proper budgetary appropriation for the takeoff this Commission, the approval of the composition of the Governing Council may turn to a waste of time and energy” he said.
He called on the members of the NCPWD Board to take advantage of this office to ensure the full implementation of the National Disability Act by all Nigerians both in public and private sectors, as the time to change disability narratives in Nigeria has come.
“We also call on all organisations of, and for persons with disabilities, development partners and the private sector to support the takeoff of this Commission as this is the first time Nigeria is implementing a law that protects its citizens with disabilities from discrimination and other harmful practices”. he pleaded.
He assured the leadership and members of the Board of the National Commission for Persons with disabilities of CCDs commitment towards providing technical and other supports to ensure the attainment of the mandates of the Commission.
“We are grateful to all our partners for their support to this campaign for the full implementation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), in particular, our friends from the media for their solidarity in this struggle” he concluded.
