An Abuja-based NGO,  Royal School of Educational Therapy Foundation (RSETF) has made a case for inclusion of persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities in societal functions including the entertainment industry.

The Founldation’s founder, Dr Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, made the call during production of a movie titled; “Yes, We Can(Not a Burden” held in Abuja.

Adejugbe-Williams said that inclusion of persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities and some Nollywood and Hollywood celebrities in telling their stories in their own words, would demonstrate to the world that there is “ability in disability”.

She explained that the aim of the movie is to give voice to persons with developmental disabilities, foster their development and demonstrate to the world.

She noted that no matter the challenges, each person with disability had strengths and could learn and achieve if given the opportunity.

Adejugbe-Williams stressed that the project was directed and produced by a notable Nollywood director and producer, Amb. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen.

” The foundation having seen the need for inclusiveness and integration particularly of children living with disabilities with the belief that every person should be given every opportunity of academic excellence, talent development, and skill acquisition, has been empowering persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities with life and vocational skills.

” And quite a number of the children have been learning and thriving. So the foundation embarked on the development of a docudrama titled” Yes, We Can (Not a Burden)”.

Adejugbe-Williams, said the project was bound to give them hope and help change the narrative of actors with disabilities.

She also said that the project would hopefully bring an end to the systematic problem of exclusive practices in the entertainment industry worldwide and add to the advocacy for inclusiveness.

She said that the project was partly being funded by a grant from Voice Nigeria and sought for sponsors to cover post production cost as there are a lot of works that would involve. professionals

Adejugbe-Williams called for government’s support for other activities to benefit the students such as assistive tehcnology, communication devices, mobility equipment for online learning during this COVID-19 pandemic.

She expressed regret that students with disabilities are not benefiting from any of the government’s online learning activities during this time, saying  they are not being accommodated in the curriculum and modalities for lesson delivery.

“Furthermore, they all need telepathy, which government has not provided for and they cannot afford.

“We also need support for our facility rental, staff’s welfare and operational needs”, she added.

Also, the director and producer, Amb. Lancelet Oduwa Imasuen (Guvnor)described the movie as the height of inclusiveness, adding that it breaks all records as the most challenging film project ever embarked upon.

” This is more than just a film, making these special people act along side other artistes was just the height of inclusiveness; they had their scripts, read their lines and equally delivered their lines.

” To me, as a filmmaker, this breaks all records as the most challenging film project ever embarked upon by me”

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that the movie features notable celebrities like Francis Duru, Empress Njama, Ali Nuhu, Paul Sambo, Fiona Garuba, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ivie Okujaye, and Fred Bright.

Edited By: Shittu Obassa/Sadiya Hamza (NAN)

The Nigeria Peoples’ Disability Parliament has received information from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development requesting that as many as possible of PWDs to benefit from N-power so they are encouraged to apply.

The speaker of the Parliament, Rasak Adekoya in a statement he signed and released to the public said that ten percent(10%) of the 400,000 beneficiaries for the upcoming N-power programme will be persons with disabilities.

He called on persons with disabilities to come forward and register massively for the upcoming N-power programme.

“I write to share this information with you and urge you all, disability leaders and organisations of people with disabilities to share this information and spread it across”. He said.

Four criteria you should know before you apply include: Have your BVN. Do not be an employee in any organisation, application will be online and previous applicants of N-power are not eligible.

This year application will ask you to indicate your disability status. So, get ready to apply on June 26 on www.npower.gov.ng

We will update you with more information as soon as we get them.

He urged leaders of disability community to share the information with all members across the country to apply.

Disability Rights Advocacy Center(DRAC) last week released a video in pidgin language to sensitize the public on what consent is.

This is coming at the right time as sexual abuse is now an epidemic in Nigeria. Cases of Rape is on a rise and people should understand what consent is to avoid getting into trouble.

This video is also to carry out public awareness campaign towards reducing the incidences of rape in Nigeria.

Watch DRAC’s “Zobo As Consent” Video below to understand the concept of consent for sex

The Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) has waded into the crisis rocking the Plateau State chapter of the association with the aim of resolving it.

Miss Omotunde Ellen Thompson, Deputy Chairperson/Secretary of JONAPWD Board of Trustee, made this known, on Sunday, in a statement in Abuja.

It would be recalled that members of the Plateau State chapter of JONAPWD had planned to embark on massive protest to the state’s government house and National Assembly, Abuja, if Governor Simon Lalong ignored their call against nominating Mr. James Lalu as member of the state’s Disability Rights Commission.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Jan. 23, 2019, assented to Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

Section 31 of the Act provides for the setting up of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities with Executive Secretary as the head.

Thompson, in the statement, appealed to members in the state to sheathe their sword.

According to her, we have heard your plights as a PWDs (People With Disabilities) mother.

“First and foremost, we thank God for our President, Muhammadu Buhari, that assented to the Nigerians with Disability Act, which mandated that an independent National Commission should be established.

“I am appealing to our Plateau State PWDs who cried out concerning the situation of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission (DRC) during a meeting held on June 15, 2020, at the Village Hostel, Uni-Jos.

“It took us 20 years to get this law and as the umbrella body of PWDs, we can not fold our arms and watch wrong people among us becoming members of the commission.

“The entire Plateau State people with disabilities, especially the University of Jos Students with disabilities, are badly affected by COVIC-19 lockdown because of Mr. James Lalu’s years of mismanagement of the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission.

“Their situations are terrible and as the umbrella body, we will not allow such to continue during Post COVID-19 pandemic and Nigerian economic recovery,” she said.

The group chairperson assured that the interest of 31 million PWDs in Nigeria would continue to be protected.

She, therefore, said there was the urgent need to establish the commission In order to end lack of disability inclusion in matters affecting disability in the country.

“NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US. If we fail to learn from our past mistakes and start addressing crisis through its history, we stand the danger of repeating same mistake,” Thompson remarked. (The shield online)

The Ogun State Chapter of the Joint National Association Of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) has held a sensitization and awareness campaign on the reality of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

Chairman of Ogun State JONAPWD, Lekan Mohammed said the awareness programme was necessary to intimate members on the dangers of the virus and remind them that people with disabilities are even more vulnerable to it.

At the sensitization programme, Professor Ashimolowo, who graciously donated palliatives to the Association emphasised that the Covid-19 is real and people with disabilities must take preventive measures to stay safe.

She urged them to adhere to all guidelines put in place by World Health Organisation in order to avoid contracting the virus.

The donor also expressed her concern for people with disabilities in Ogun, just as she enjoined them to keep sensitizing their members on the negative implication of non adherence to the preventive measures.

Also at the programme, Dr. Michael Ebonhor presented a lecture on the impact of Covid-19 on the behavioural changes of people with disabilities in Ogun state.

Besides, head of clusters and members of the association also seized the occasion to share their experiences on how they were able to cope during the lockdown period and viable steps government can adopt to help PWDs, considering their vulnerability.

After the presentation of palliative to members by Prof Ashimolowo, the Ogun JONAPWD Chairman thanked her for the kind gesture.

He also implored cluster Chairmen to reach out to their members across the State to further create awareness to stay safe from Covid-19.

Children with Disabilities under the auspices of DRAC peer educators have expressed their worries over the exclusion of children with disabilities in the government newly introduced e-learning to enhance continuous education of school children. You will recall that in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, schools were closed.

Therefore, Federal Ministry of Education recently introduced e-learning to keep school children abreast with their school activities.

Unforunately. this e-learning didn’t factor disability inclusion in its design. So DRAC peer educators in this video produced by DRAC with the support of Disability Rights Fund called on Federal Ministry of Health and UBEB to make provisions to include children with disabilities in the e-learning.

Watch:

by Chris Agbo

Onwubariri Emmanuel Chidube is a person with disability who sustained spinal cord injury in 2008 as a result of car accident.

On 17th June, 2020 in Oka Ndibinihu Village, Isialambano LGA, Imo state, he was physically abused and assaulted by Mr. Chukwudi Emmanuel Udunka.

In his statement to The Qualitative Magazine and the accounts from his brothers, it all started on 30th of May 2020 when one Mr. Captain Simon Onwubariri with some youths by the instruction of one Mr. Simeon Udunka came to his house and made away with his generator with the reason that his elder brother owes the village.

He pleaded with them to leave his generator because it is common knowledge in the village that he is the owner of the generator not his elder brother.

“If my brother owes you please leave me out of it” he pleaded but they told him to go and call any police or army that they are not afraid.

“I had no other option than to make video of them taking away my generator when I was not the one owing them. One of them Chukwudi Emmanuel Udunka on noticing that I have made a video of them tried to snatch my phone from me but he didn’t succeed, so he threatened to deal with me”, he said.

See the video when they took away his generator set:

The names of those that made away with his generator are Captain Simon Onwubariri, Innocent Ibemesim, Ifeanyi Onwubariri, Chikwudi udunka, Kennett Udunka, Israel Udunka, Kennett Ezeji, Sam Oyenawoli, Ndubisi Onwubariri, Chibuike Onwubariri, Chibuike Igbokwe, Everest Achuoye, Chika Nwanakwu.

As if that was not enough, on 17th June, 2020 around 7am, Mr. Chukwudi Udunka ran into his compound with a cutlass and a stick and it was raining.

“I was trying to go out and brush my teeth and eat something when he ran into my compound screaming that he is going to kill somebody, that he is going to cut down every member of my family and I said to him brother please stop this, he came into me with full force and pushed me off my wheelchair” he narrated.

“I was down with pains on the ground when my younger brother went after him; he was still shouting that this is just the beginning. It was at this point that my younger brother captured some parts on camera” he said.

He also informed us that before he was violated physically, the same person has been abusing him verbally, he tells him always that he will deal with him one day and there is nothing he can do, he can’t walk, so he can’t do anything and if he goes to police, nothing will come of it because they are connected with the Commissioner of Police in Imo State.

He also informed us that when he was pushed, he fell on muddy ground, his wheelchair damaged and he was badly injured so his younger brother rushed him to hospital, from the hospital, they went to the police to report the incident and the young man and his friend who was also part of the people that took his generator were arrested and the police advised him to go back to hospital and continue his medication since he was in pains. When he returned to the hospital, they denied him admission, so, due to long time frame of looking for a hospital to get medication, he developed a pressure sore around his private part.

Regrettably, as he was in the hospital, those boys were released without contacting him and the case were no longer being attended to adequately and he is having information that they are now collaborating with the Police Commissioner making it difficult for him to get anything good out of his case.

Therefore, he is calling on the public to come to his rescue because he wants justice for what they did to him (took away his generator, came back after some weeks and pushed him down with his wheelchair. His wheelchair was damaged, as a person with spinal cord injury; he went through trauma when he was pushed and the body injuries).

 He is now afraid that he doesn’t know if he has sustained any spinal injury that can cause complications in future.

“Since I was pushed off my wheelchair, I have been afraid; I pray I don’t have complications that may take my life because I have been on painkilling drugs since that day.

“I consulted two doctors and they requested an X-ray and MRI scan to ascertain my spinal condition which I don’t have money to carry out and the person who did this to me is still moving around boasting that he will do more” he said.

See the video of the pushing incident:

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has said that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) will be given special consideration as the enrollment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries begins.

The Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information, Rhoda Ishaku Iliya said applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrollment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate.

“As a Ministry that caters for the vulnerable, we will also make special considerations for Persons living with disabilities,” the Minister assured.

Farouq said the commencement of the Batch C enrollment is sequel to far reaching consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform and realignment of the programme for greater efficiency.

According to her, the Batch C is also being enrolled to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youths to access the programme, in furtherance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunities that will enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youths for entrepreneurship.

“In view of these, the Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020 and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020.

“We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost post-Covid-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

Farouq said the online portal would be open to receive applications from 12noon on June 26, 2020 and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

As part of the Ministry’s reforms to make the programme more efficient, she said all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application, adding that it will ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.

“Once applications are submitted, the Ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants. Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in the application process. Comprehensive details for the new batch will be announced in the coming weeks.”

The Minister also disclosed that The N-Power programme has so far has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries; 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018.

She said the beneficiaries were supposed to spend not less than 24 months on the programme and were spread across the key industries targeted by the program – Agriculture, Health, Education, and Tax.

Besides, Farouq said the current beneficiaries from Batches A and B are scheduled to transit the programme by July 31, 2020 with plans already in place to transition them into entrepreneurship

The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by President Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

The Joint National Association Of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) sensitized about 2000 parents of children with disabilities as part of its sensitization campaign on E-learning.

In a statement signed by Chair, Education Committee, JONAPWD, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Rita Boyo, the sensitization which was done in partnership with 31 heads of inclusive primary schools was geared towards enabling the children participate in the ongoing e-learning programme of the Lagos State Government.

Speaking further, she said that her Committee also worked with a team of consultants from Festus Fajemilo Foundation to train 14 E-learning instructors of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board.

According to her, the instructors were trained on how to make their E-classes on TV, radio and social media accessible to children with disabilities.

Mrs. Boyo stated that JONAPWD State Chairman, Dr. Adebayo and in partnership with CEO of Festus Fajemilo Foundation, Mr. Folabi have also commenced the process of conducting assessment of all 44 inclusive primary and secondary schools by training 15 enumerators and facilitators who will commence collection of data next week.

“We are happy that our efforts to make education more accessible to children with disabilities in Lagos state is receiving the support from the Honorable Commissioner for Education, the Chairman of SUBEB, the management and staff of the education, MDAs and other stakeholders. We welcome your feedback and advise,” she concluded.

By Moses Emorinken

THE Federal Government has said that although Nigeria’s polio-free status calls for celebration, however, more work still needs to be done to ensure that the status is maintained and that no child is ever paralysed by the virus.

The country has left the league of wild polio endemic countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, and will hopefully get its certification Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication (ARCC), in August this year.

After three decades of tireless efforts to eradicate polio in the country, Nigeria has achieved the historical milestone of being wild polio-free.

Speaking during a zoom celebration meeting with stakeholders, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, on Friday in Abuja, said: “We have now arrived at the point where the ARCC has looked at all of the evidence that we have provided to the World Health Organization (WHO), and they have seen that there is no evidence whatsoever that there is still wild polio virus in circulation anywhere in the country.\

In the last few years, we have been able to pull together documentation that shows that we’ve looked everywhere and we’ve been able to provide enough vaccines to Nigerians and the wild polio viruses are no longer circulating.

“Wild polio-free certification means that there is no wild polio in Nigeria but it does not mean that the work is over. As a matter of fact, even the harder work starts because we have to maintain this wild polio-free status.

We have to continue giving our kids the vaccinations that they need against wild polio viruses and vaccines against other vaccine-preventable diseases.

We are also not forgetting that we still have Afghanistan and Pakistan that are endemic for wild polio viruses; that is, there is still a potential that this virus may be imported into Nigeria because we now live in a global village.”