by Agbo Chris

On Monday, 13^th Centre for Citizens with Disabilities begins the weeklong line up of activities for the first commemoration of the passage of Nigeria Disability Act with an interactive Forum with Media Executives.

The event saw in attendance editors and senior reporters from well-known media organizations both print and electronic media such as AIT, NTA, ClearView TV, Guardian Newspaper, News Telegraph, Vanguard Newspaper etc. The Qualitative Magazine, the foremost disability advocacy magazine was also at the event.

The Executive Director, David Anyaele in his speech emphasized on the importance of the media to ensure that Disability Act is implemented. He said that it took 18 years of struggle before the act is achieved because the persons with disabilities didn’t get the full support of the media. Even the reporters who were involved struggled to report the issues properly. He said that the media primary duty is to hold government accountable therefore there is a need for the collaboration with media if the act will be implemented.

Speaking further, he recognized that private sponsored bill when it is passed into law, the state always struggle to implement it so it is not a surprise that National Commission for Persons with disabilities was not captured in the newly passed budget and also the silence of the state actors toward it was an indication that there is no plan for creation of the Commission. The honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management and Social Development during the International Day of Persons with disabilities promised that they will create the commission and implement the act. This is one year of the enactment of the act; we have not seen anything. Therefore, for us to achieve this implementation, we must move in trenches, we will engage all stakeholders state and non-state actors to propel the government to do the needful. However, we may not achieve that if the stakeholders are not aware of the provisions of the act. The section 2 of the act provides that The Federal Ministry of Information will be responsible for awareness creation but it is unfortunate that up till date, Honourable Minister of Information Chief Lai Mohammed is yet to make a comment about the act.

He went on to inform that in the course of the week, there will be engagement of different  stakeholders, the decision to start with the media is because the media agenda for discussion in any society and if we are to achieve the implementation of this act, we must have the media buy into it.

He said that the media have challenge on the right terminologies for reportage, and not knowing the right way to approach disability issues so it is pertinent that the media capacity is built in disability issues to enable them set agenda that will enhance the implementation of the act.

He proposed that every 17^th January should be recognized as the National Day for Disability to draw up conversation and consciousness on the disability issues.

The media practitioners agree to do more in holding government accountable in the implementation of disability

The Qualitative Magazine recalls that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Act, 2018 was signed into Law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Jan. 17, 2019.

 CCD is the organization at the forefront of the advocacy which lead to the enactment of National Disability Act and they are working assiduously ensure the implementation of National Disability Act.

The event will continue on Tuesday will Friday with engagement of Civil society groups, line ministries, departments and agencies and National Assembly committees and on Friday, there will be a road show /walk to create awareness on National Disability Act.

Festus Fajemilo Foundation, in partnership with the Lagos State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, has revealed plans to develop teacher cooperative manual and online resource centres where regular teachers could learn more about children with disabilities and how to better communicate to enhance learning.

The groups made this known during an advocacy visit to the office of the Director of the Department of Special Education in Akoka Lagos state.

The advocacy visit is in preparation for a project by Festus Fajemilo Foundation, JONAPWD and Daughters of Charity which is geared towards promoting inclusive education by training teachers from selected Primary and Secondary schools across the State on inclusive education.

Speaking at the Visit to the office of the director for special education, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, Chairman, Lagos JONAPWD who spoke on behalf of the project team said that the idea behind the project was to see how regular teachers could better collaborate with special teachers to teach special students in various primary and secondary schools.

Further shedding light on the need for the project, Dr. Adebayo said that the numbers of special teachers in schools were not enough to address the increasing number of special children in schools.

“The idea is for us to see how special and regular teachers can better collaborate to teach, as special teachers are always fewer, leaving us with the option of coming up with a cooperative teaching Manual that regular and inclusive teachers could use.” He said.

Dr Adebayo who also spoke on what to expect in the cause of the training said, “We will be introducing some basic skills to the regular teachers because it is the regular teacher that will support the special teachers, we will also teach basic ideas about disability teaching instruments” Dr Adebayo said.

Applauding the team for deciding to taking up the Project, the Director who revealed that she might not be able to oversee the project as the director of the department of special education because she is retiring,  introduced the team to Mrs. Shomoye who she said will be relating directly with the team and handling matters related to the project after she retires.

Also in the cause of the Advocacy visit, the team paid a visit to Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, where they spoke on the issue of current recruitment process for teachers by TESCOM , the barriers faced by People with Disabilities and their chances of being employed into the commission.

Attending to the team the commissioner II of TESCOM, Mrs. Smith  who promised to see to it  that a representative was sent by the commission to be part of the project as requested by the team, further disclosed that the State Government has a quota for special Teachers in the employment process and was committed to employing People with Disabilities into the commission.

The Project team members, which include representatives of Lagos JONAPWD, FFF, Daughters of Charity, Head of Inclusive Unit, Lagos; Zonal Head South West, Nigerian Educational Research & Development Council; had an inaugural planning meeting to discuss and strategize on the modus operandi of the project.(BONEWS)

Star Children Development Initiative , a foundation is committed to eradication of poverty and hunger for Persons With Disability and other less privileged people in our society in Ibadan donated food stuff and cash donations to parents of children with disabilities as a new year celebration for the children with disabilities and their parents.

Raheem Yusuf Olatunji a person with disability and a disability right advocate who helped to put together this event writing on his facebook wall thanked all the donors, ambassadors, prayer warriors, well wishers and supporters.

SEE THE PICTURES

By Diana Omueza

Abuja – Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) will inaugurate Disability Champions Award to honour and celebrate those who contributed and supported the passage and assent of the National Disability Law.

Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director CCD said this on Friday in a statement in Abuja to commemorate the first anniversary of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Act, 2019.

Anyaele said that the award would celebrate individuals, public and private institutions who have been on the forefront of promoting disability rights and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.

According to him, the 18 years struggle that led to the passage and the successful assent of the law was made possible because of the help and support of so many well-meaning citizens, groups and organisations, which should not go unnoticed.

“To commemorate the first anniversary of the national disability law, we will be unveiling the 1st Disability Champion Awards” designed to recognise, and celebrate individuals and institutions that have contributed in promoting disability rights.

“We will celebrate those who supported the entire process from the start; those who had sleepless night, those who emptied their bank accounts, and those who contributed intellectually.

“We want to recognise these persons so that they won’t relent in their good deeds and the law will be fully implemented in all spheres to achieve independent living and integration for PWDs,’’ he said.

According to Anyaele, CCD will premiere a documentary that showcases the 18 years effort by various PWDs organisations to secure the national legislation for the benefit of no fewer than 25 million Nigerians with disabilities.

He said that the organisation with the support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, British Council, would be hosting a one-week event with activities; including an interactive forum with media executives.

Other activities are learning lessons on Disability Rights Advocacy in Nigeria with stakeholders, experience sharing with line ministries, departments and agencies  and committees of the National Assembly, among others.

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a premier organisation for Persons with Disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living, inclusion and participation of PWDs in development agenda.

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act was passed by the 8th session of the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari in Jan. 9, 2019.(NAN)

The Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with disabilities(CCD), David Anyaele in a AIT News Hour on Wednesday Night while responding to a question on the extent of the implementation of National Disability Act since it became law a year ago, said that as an organization, they are making progress, engaging states to adopt the act. For instance Ekiti state through CCD intervention has been taking step to adopt the act and institutions and MDAs are asking questions to understand their roles when it comes to the act.

Speaking further, he said that the Federal Government is making effort towards the implementation because during the International Day for Persons with Disabilities 2019, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development made statement towards the implementation of the act which indicates that Federal government is still have their mind towards the implementation of the act.

On responding to the question on CCD engagement with the authority about the 5% percent employment quota as it was enshrined in the act which some applicants with disabilities has been going from one agency to the other to ensure its enforcement, he informed that towards the end of the year 2019, CCD meet with the lime committees in the National Assembly encouraging them to engage the lime ministries to enforce the 5% employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, in particular, we meet with the leadership of the senate committee in Labour and employment encouraging therm to use their office to engage ministries and agencies to provide these 5% employment for persons with disabilities and they promised that they will do that. National Assembly is critical in engaging ministries and agencies to implement state policies. Alongside ministry of Humanitarian Affairs who will be leading in this engagement particularly the Federal Civil Service Commission who is responsible for recruiting staff for Federal Government.

Answering question on how important National Disability Commission is to the implementation of the Act, he said that the commission will provide guidelines that will aid government ministries and agencies as well as private sectors for the implementation of the critical sections of the act such as the 5% employment opportunities in government establishments, right to education, right to health, right to political participation including right to priority in queues. The commission will support government in the implementation of these provisions. That’s why the commission is very important if we must implement the act.

ADVERTISEMENT

January 17, 2020 is the first anniversary of the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, also known as National Disability Act. The Act was passed by the 8th session of the National Assembly and assented to by President Mohammadu Buhari on the 17th of January 2019. The assent of the President to Act, which was made public on the 23rd of January, 2019 was a big relief to the disability community in Nigeria.

Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele in a press release on Thursday, explained that The Act contains provisions that ensures people with disabilities in Nigeria are protected against discrimination and harmful treatment, cruelty and inhuman treatment; access to public building; protection at situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies. Also, the law provided for the right of children with disabilities; right to health, education, work and employment, right to drive, right to communication, right to communal life, right to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure/sport and National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to address complaints of harassment, discrimination and harmful practices amongst others. The Act further provides that the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture will be responsible public awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Speaking further, he said that going by the Act, it is a crime against the state to discriminate against any person with disability in Nigeria which is key to rehabilitation and reintegration of persons with disabilities.

He informed that CCD with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program, British Council will be hosting a one-week event in Abuja to commemorate the anniversary from January 13 to 17, 2010. Activities line up for the week include: Interactive forum with Media Executives; Learning Lessons on Disability Rights Advocacy in Nigeria with CSO/OPDs; Experience Sharing with line MDAs and Committees of the National Assembly; Learning Lessons on Disability Rights Advocacy in Nigeria with Diplomatic Community; and Roadshow.

The anniversary week will feature the unveiling of the “1st Disability Champion Awards” by Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD). The Award is designed to recognize, honour and celebrate individuals and institutions that have contributed in promoting disability rights, independent living, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in society on equal bases with other members of the society.

It will also feature the premiering a documentary that showcases 18 years effort by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in securing a national legislation for the protection of more than 25 million Nigerians with Disabilities from discrimination and other harmful practices.

You will recall that Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is at the forefront and it is the premier organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in development agenda. CCD coordinated CSOs campaign for the passage of the National Disability Bill, now an Act.

Lois Auta was appointed as a technical committee member to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a voice for women and girls with disabilities.

Qualitative Magazine learnt this from Lois Auta Facebook account when she wrote on Tuesday by 3.45pm :

GLORY BE TO GOD

I have been appointed as a technical committee member to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a voice for women and girls with disabilities.

Lois Auta is a woman with disability , the founder of Cedar Seeds Foundation and Accord Party Federal House of Representative Candidate Amac/Bwari Federal Constituency for 2019 general election. A strong voice when it comes to advocating for persons with disabilities especially women and girls with disabilities.