by Agbo Chris

The Daughters of Charity Coordination office for the Child Empowerment programme in Nigeria expressed joy and gratitude over the donation of assorted assistive devices and vocational equipment by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, for the use of persons with disabilities and their families in the areas where the Daughters of Charity and their partner organizations cover.

Sr. Fidelia Unigwe, the programme coordinator of child empowerment programme, in a letter addressed to the Honourable Minister of The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, appreciated the Minister Mrs. Pauline Tallen for the donation which will improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries. The gesture is a morale booster for the Daughters of Charity in their effort to empower persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

She expressed commitment, in accordance with the set standard of the organization, to ensure that the items reach the neediest so that the purpose will be achieved.

Items received from the Ministry are 20 wheelchairs, 20 pairs of crutches, 5 tricycles, 15 Walking Sticks, 2 Braille Machines, 10 Slates and Stylus, 3 Tape Recorders, 5 Grinding Machines, 10 packets of Braille papers, 5 large Mirror, 15 front wheel walker, 2 Barbing Clippers, 4 Taylor figures and frames, 5 Hair Dryers with basins and curling machines.

by Agbo Chris

In our chat with the Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind, FCT Chapter, Obinna Ekujereonye on the just concluded International White Cane Day, he described the white cane as a symbol of power to the blind persons, an indicator for others to give the blind persons the right of the way, and the blind also use it to navigate their way and the international white cane day is a day the visually impaired persons both partially sighted and blind showcase the use of the white cane. The theme of 2019 edition is my safety, my productivity. The white is a stick a blind man uses in identifying obstacle while working alone. The white cane came into being in North America in 1921, when a blind man James Biggs of Bristol invented the white cane made with stick, it has been modernized to have other features, for example, it is no longer made by stick and it is made with objects that made it stronger and flexible, some are electronic that can vibrate to indicate that obstacle is  ahead, it has been enhanced to be more friendly to the blind persons.

He frowned at the way the roads are in Nigeria which has made life difficult for the blind to use the roads and it is also applicable to the other persons with disabilities especially persons with physical disabilities. This accessibility problem prompted NAB FCT to work on the issue of access of public infrastructures in FCT. There is a lot accessibility problem in Nigeria, the architectural designs of most of our buildings normally come with a lot of stairs which has hindered the movement of persons with physical disabilities. NAB FCT is taking accessibility audit to get the government to address the challenge faced by persons with disabilities.

He appreciated President Buhari for signing the Disability Rights Bill into law and in the new law, section 7 talked about accessibility. There is no need to wait till 5 years grace as it stipulated in the act elapse before pressuring government to at least make all government owned buildings in the FCT.  

He called on the Nigerian engineers to review the building codes as soon as possible to insert into the codes disability friendly facilities.

He projected that by the end of the one-year duration of the NAB FCT accessibility audit, public buildings in FCT will be a model other states to copy.

The National Federation of the Blind celebrates White Cane Awareness Day every year on October 15.

For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that gives us the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows us to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it’s at work, at school, or around our neighborhoods.

by Agbo Chris

Nigeria Association of the Blind FCT will be deploying a team of data collectors to carry accessibility audit of public infrastructures in the FCT. This project funded by Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is geared towards improving accessibility of public infrastructure as a right to persons with disabilities in accordance with Discrimination Against persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act and the United Nation Convention on Rights Persons With Disabilities.  The team which has been trained to carry out this task will commence their duties on 22^nd October 2019 and the exercise will last for three days.

The accessibility will cover some ministries, bank, schools, hotels, recreations centres etc.

by Agbo Chris

On 14^th to 17^th of October, 2019 in Abuja, Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC) organized a 4-day training programme on Strategic Advocacy and Development of an Advocacy Strategy for Disabled People’s Organization in Nigeria. The programme which was supported by Disability Rights Fund (DRF) through DRF’s commonwealth funding stream aimed at supporting Nigerian OPDs to identify and strategize about the Nigerian Government’s Commitments made during the 2018 Commonwealth Disability Summit.  It is to support DRF / DRAF grantees and partners in United Kingdom Commonwealth countries, that are working to ensure that governments are held accountable for their global commitments made at the 2018 Global Disability Summit, “to ensure persons with disabilities are consistently and systematically included in international development and humanitarian assistance.”

The training was designed to achieve the following objectives: (1) Strengthen the strategic advocacy of Nigeria’s DRF grantees through training (2) Develop an advocacy strategy for the monitoring and implementation of the UNCRPD and Nigeria GDS 18 commitments. (3) Establish an advocacy working group and develop the terms of reference to guide their work.

The workshop was declared open by the DRAC program Officer Noel Balogun who introduced the workshop to the participants and prepare their minds to what to expect at the end of the whole training.

DRF Senior Consultant Commonwealth project, Rebecca Rittgers in her opening remark said that the workshop is a special funded project by DRF to strengthen the advocacy strategy of OPDs on GDS commitments for commonwealth countries. She stated that the workshop was set up to achieve three goals;(1) to increase advocacy capacity of the participants(OPDs), (2) to develop strategy collectively towards achieving GDS commitments and UNCRPD (3) to develop a framework to bring the leaders(OPDs) together to work together going forward in developing strategy to advance the rights of persons with disabilities. She urged participants to work together to develop smart and achievable goals by the end of the workshop.

DRF Program Officer, Nigeria, Theophilus Odaudu while giving a background of the workshop, said that commonwealth project of leave no one behind of DRF and the idea of the project is to form advocacy projects around Global Disability Summit (GDS) commitments. There was a summit in UK last year 2018 where many countries made commitments to improve the rights of persons with disabilities and our country Nigeria is one of those countries, some of those commitments are timeline and some have deadlines and it is still a mirage on how many of these commitments has been met by our dear country Nigeria. It is good that OPDs are aware of these commitments so that OPDs can advocate, remind, monitor and push the government to meet these commitments because they are for the good of the persons with disabilities in general. What the commonwealth project is set out achieve is to enlighten the DPOs in Nigeria about these commitments, to strengthen DPOs advocacy capacity and to find ways to work with the DPOs to formulate projects/activities that can be funded to the realization of GDS commitments.

He further spoke on disability rights movement in Nigeria which he stated that it has been faced with a lot of challenges ranging from tribe issues, geographical issues, religious issues, all the differences that supposed to a strength or advantage to us is responsible for our crisis. In spite of this, the movement has grown, there has been improvement in advocacy style even though there are still few DPOs who are very active in advocating for disability rights, many other DPOs are left behind due to poor capacity, poor funding etc. Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) which was formed in early 90s and was registered in 2008 has been in leadership crisis whereby their case is in court and efforts to resolve out of court have not yield any fruit. For DRF point of view, JONAPWD has no leadership and that’s why DRF have not involved them in DRF programmes and projects. He hopes that JONAPWD sort out their problem soon to assume the responsibility of spearheading disability rights movement in Nigeria. The crisis has diversely affected the disability rights movement in Nigeria because as umbrella body which supposed to champion so many programmes and activities on National level which is not happening now. This has been slowing down disability rights movement in Nigeria, even though some cluster organizations are doing well to fill in the gap but it is still better for JONAPWD to come back on board to ensure the smooth running of disability rights movement in Nigeria.

He spoke on DRF commitment towards advocacy in Nigeria, DRF has funded 12 projects between 2018 to 2019 in Nigeria. The first round of grants from DRF ended in August, final reports of the projects are being received and it is exciting that the objectives of the projects has been met. This is an indication that the DPOs are raising to the occasion and they are properly executing their projects. He used the opportunity to call on DPOs who have not submitted their final report to do so because the deadline is around the corner. He concluded by urging the participants to be attentive to the facilitator because it is useful to those who are advocating already, those who are new in advocacy, it will provide a knowledge base in which they can work with. It will be useful for those who are not yet grantees to help them come up with proposals that can receive grants.

He introduced the facilitator whose name is Wamundila Waliuya from Lusaka, Zambia, working with Disability Rights Watch, he has traveled to all part of southern Africa tutoring and mentoring DPOs in advancement of disability rights. Nigeria is the first country in West Africa that he has visited for the purpose of tutoring and facilitating DPOs on disability rights movement. He is a veteran in disability rights movement in Zambia and Africa, being a part and in the forefront of the disability rights advocacy in his home country Zambia.

Wamundila who is a blind person was hilarious, articulate and impactful while facilitating the participants through what is advocacy, why do we do advocacy and Who does advocacy, strategic advocacy planning process( here, he stated the 10 steps of planning advocacy(advocacy cycle) which he took time to facilitate upon during the four days and they are: 1. Identification of the issue, 2. Problem analysis, 3. Drafting Objectives, 4. Situation Analysis, 5. Capacity Assessment, 6. Finalizing Objectives/aims, 7. Device action plans, 8. Implement Action Plans, 9. Monitoring and Evaluation, 10. Revise Advocacy strategy, Introduction of the CRPD and the GDS commitments, lobbying (what is lobbying, influencing styles, qualities of a good lobbyist), working with the mass media.

The workshop was interactive, comprehensive and fulfilling, it also witnessed a lot of group and individuals exercises where the facilitator ascertains the knowledge based of the participants before, during and after a topic.

Most participants we spoke with us (The Qualitative Magazine) were satisfied with the training and the training styles of the facilitator. A participant from The Albino foundation (TAF) Damian Ivom describes the workshop as one of the best he has ever attended because of the quality and wealth of knowledge of the facilitator on the subject. Another participant Comrade Musa Muazu Musa from Centre for Citizen Disabilities (CCD) told us that the way the facilitator broke down the advocacy planning process made him realized that there is still a lot we need to adjust to ensure more effective advocacy in Nigeria. Speaking further, he said that the knowledge of the GDS commitments provided a clearer direction for the advancement of disability rights in Nigeria.

The Participants at the workshop were Freky Andrew Essien (FAECARE Foundation), Esther Andrew Awu (Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) Nassarawa State Branch), Eberendu Onyinyechi (Office of the head of civil service of the federation), Olanike Akinola (Alliance for Disability & HIV/AIDS), Barr. Ikem Uchegbulam(National Civil Service Association of Persons with disabilities), Hauwa Ojeifo(She writes Woman-Health Initiative), Musa Muazu Musa( Centre for Citizens with disabilities), Tochukwu Okereke( Centre for Rights to Health(CRH), Obinna Dede Ekujereonye( NAB FCT), David O, Anyaele(CCD), Mube Awala Beatrice(National Association Person With Physical Disabilities(NAPWPD), Kyennan J. Mizin( Centre for Independent Living), Miyausa Wayuta Mshelia( Savwin-Sound Abilities For Vulnerable Women Initiatives Nigeria), Haruna Mohammed(Nigerian National Association of the Deaf(NNAD)), Paul Inyanda Onogwu(NNAD FCT), Celine E. Osukwu( Divine Foundation for Disable Persons), Ajayi Ibrahim Olakunle(Nigeria Association with persons with deaf blind), Bilkisu Ibrahim Mahmood(NAB-Kano), Ishaku Adamu (NAB) and Agbo Christian( The Qualitative Magazine).

Executive Director DRAC, Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbodu in her goodwill message appreciated DRF for the training, the facilitator for enriching the knowledge of the participants in the area of strategic advocacy and urge the participants to apply all that they have learnt in their advocacy for the good of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

The workshop ended with a curtail party in the night of the last day 17^th October, 2019, the participants, alongside DRAC team, DRF team and the facilitator partied, danced, ate, drank, exchanged contacts and took pictures to ease off a week-long of intensive training characterized with painstaking attentiveness to the facilitator and brainstorming during the exercises.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE WORKSHOP

By Peter amine

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau says his original idea of setting up Disability Rights Commission informed his decision to appoint persons with disabilities to run the commission.

Lalong made this known on Friday in Abuja when he met with a World Bank Technical Team on Disability Inclusion.

The governor further said that misapplication of the state Disability Rights Act by able bodied persons compelled him to sack them from the commission meant to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities.

“The same law which was passed when I was speaker of Plateau House of Assembly, was misapplied when persons without disability were in charge of the commission.

“I said `no’, that was not my idea, the idea was that when we set up a commission like this, we should show the world that such commissions can be managed by persons with disabilities.

“I removed those people who were able and I told them to go to where there is no disability and leave this one for people that have disabilities.

“I replaced them with people with disabilities because they have capable hands that can manage the commission,” he explained.

The governor stated that since the commission was taken over by persons with disabilities, the commission has been doing very well and in deference to their specific disability.

Lalong assured that looking at performance of persons with disabilities in his last administration, he would appoint more of them in the next cabinet he was about to constitute.

According to him, those that were dissolved at the end of his first tenure would be reappointed.

The governor pledged to continue to support people with disabilities to fulfil their God-given missions.

He said that his passion to support persons with disabilities was ignited during his days at the Ahmad Bello University (ABU), Zaria when a blind orthopedic surgeon who grew up in Plateau treated a student with multiple fractures.

“Since then, I resolved that I will support people with disabilities to achieve their potential,” he said.

Ms Vera Vemuru, Leader, World Bank Technical Team on Disability Development, said that they were in Plateau to interact with persons with disabilities and relevant government agencies on disability inclusion.

Vemuru lauded Lalong’s overwhelming support for people with disabilities and urged him to sustain the tempo.

“I appreciate your passion and what you have achieved from the policy to create the commission.

“From our interaction with members of the commission, each one of them is very passionate and more committed to the course.

“From my many years on disability inclusion, I have seen the vision, the key plans and execution under your leadership is going on very well,” she said.

Mr Michael Elesami, a member of the team, said that Plateau is the only state in Africa that appointed up to four persons to key positions by an administration.

My James Lalu, Chairman, Plateau Disability Rights Commission, thanked Lalong for his love and support for people with disabilities.

Lalu, who is auditory (hearing) impaired, also thanked the World Bank team for the visit which he said was aimed at improving the well-being of the persons with disabilities in Plateau.

A disability rights advocate Comrade Mohammed Abba Isa who is also a person with physical disability has emerged as the head of Gender and Social Inclusion, a civil society group that advocates for social equality and inclusion in the society. In an election conducted by the Network for Yobe Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (NYCSO). Comrade emerged in an election conducted which he floored three other persons. The Network of Civil Society is as a coalition of NGOs saddled with the responsibility of sharing ideas and interest to protect the right of citizens.

In a press statement sent to The Qualitative Magazine, he contested so that he will be in a position to promote social inclusion among the less privileged in the society such as women, children, PLHIV, the elderly and PWDs. He attributed that victory to Allah and assure that he will contribute his quota towards addressing permanent barriers to social inclusion in line with Yobe State Inclusive Policy instituted by Governor Mai Buni, DID strategies, UN treaties and New UN inclusive strategies for sustainable society. He calls for more acceptance and inclusion in the society.

It is the responsibility of the NYSCO to show the society how to value all members of the society. Most importantly, he implored all stakeholders to adopt the spirit of inclusiveness in their programmes to meet up the global best practices.

We at The Qualitative Magazine congratulate Comrade Isa and as the foremost disability rights advocacy magazine in Nigeria, we urge him to use his present position to advance disability rights to ensure disability inclusion.

By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule has declared free education for all students with disabilities studying in higher institutions of learning owned by the state government.

This was disclosed on Tuesday in Akwanga by provost of the state College of Education, Akwanga, Dr. Rebecca Isaac Umaru, when she received a team from the office of the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Press Affairs, Office of the Governor, who were on Disability Advocacy Tour to the institution.

According to the provost, “school fees of students with disabilities in tertiary institutions owned by the state government have been declared free by Governor Sule. That was why I was asking you to tender receipts of any fees you (students with disabilities) might have paid to enable management of the institution refund it back in compliance with the governor’s directive.”

This was even as she assured the students with disabilities of the college of institution’s management efforts at providing them with enough accommodation, mobility and writing materials to ease the difficulties been faced by them in the campus.

Also speaking, the leader of the disability advocacy tour and Personal Assistant to Governor Sule on disabilities/social media, Hamza Mammam Awe, assured the students with disabilities of the governor’s attention to their plights.

He said: “I want to assure you that the Sule’s administration is giving us a sense of belonging, hence our reason to embark on this advocacy visit to all tertiary institutions in the state, to meet and rub minds with you in order to lessen the hardship you face during your studies.”(The Nation)