Osun State Agency for Community Social Development Programme through World Bank in Osun State assisted many communities with Transformers, bore holes, construction of maternity centre, construction of hall etc, they extended the assistance to people with  disabilities in Osun State by establishing a Skills acquisition Centre, provided mobility aids, provided tricycles popularly known as KEKE NAPEP, procured medical equipment for spinal cord injury Association, building relaxation centre for elderly person.

by Chris Agbo

Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) Abuja Chapter on Monday marked International Day of Sign with graduation ceremony of health workers who received sign language interpreting training in FCT. The event with the theme: Making Healthcare Accessible For With Deaf Women with Sign-Language and Closing project -Health Empowerment and Rights For Deaf Women witnessed the certificate presentation and sign language interpretation book guide for the first set of nurses working in different hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory who were trained for six weeks on sign language interpretation in a project sponsored by US Embassy.

The project was put together to enhance the communication of deaf people in the hospitals to help them access healthcare services without stress. It is a fact that deaf people have been facing a lot of problem communicating with health workers whenever they are need of healthcare services. Training of the health workers is a step towards bridging this communication gap.

The Chairperson of the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) Abuja chapter, Mrs. Helen Beyioku-Alase in her welcome address described the importance of sign language to the deaf. She said that Sign Language carries the identify, culture, rights and the language of the deaf people. Imagine a world of a Deaf person without sign language, in hospitals, schools, banks, markets, programs, on television etc, it is like a car without a driver that cannot move.

She lamented that even though the population of the deaf people is over 8.5 million in Nigeria today, Nigeria is not doing enough to accommodate and promote sign language and Deaf people today are experts in many fields. Some are doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Mechanics, Tailors, Civil Servants, Lawyers, Special Advicers, Policians, Drivers etc, deaf people are everywhere and they are achieving great things, therefore sign language should be taken seriously to get the best out of these deaf people.

She appreciated President Buhari for taking a giant step to sign Disability Rights Bill into Law on 23^rd January, 2019. The act she believes is a step towards ensuring full inclusion of sign language and penalized any individual or organization that fail to accommodate or include sign language. She further urges Mr. President to urgently establish Disability Affair Commission for immediate implementation of Disability Rights Act. She also urges organization and partners to play their own part by ensuring full inclusion of sign language and also ensure that Deaf women and girls are not left out in all their programs and plans.

She orates some achievements of DWAN FCT such as the Project Health, Empowerment and Rights Financed by US Embassy that just came to an end, 20 health workers from Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Lab Scientists, etc were trained on the basic sign language for six weeks to enable them communicate with deaf women and other deaf people when they visit hospitals; Over 200 deaf women have been empowered on sexual and reproductive health rights information. DWAN has secured the support and endorsement of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat to include sign language in hospitals across the six area councils.

Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, Director, Special Duties, Health and Human Services, FCTA representing the Honourable Secretary, Health and Human Services speaking at the event congratulated graduating health workers and he praised DWAN FCT for the initiative saying that it is to accommodate the deaf people in the FCT policy for health care services for all FCT residents because it Is their fundamental right. Being hopeful and believes that the partnership continues to accommodate more health workers and extend the sign language to health workers in the tertiary institutions in the FCT. He assured DWAN FCT that FCTA is committed to continue the partnership until all health workers are trained.

 Barrister Hauwa Shekarau, Country Director in her speech said that in the time past, IPAS have been promoting health services and rights for able bodied women and unconsciously leave out women with disabilities. Encountering DWAN changed the narrative, IPAS have empowered them and build their capacity to speak for themselves and access healthcare services. IPAS have also exposed DWAN FCT abroad by sending the President Mrs. Helen to international conference where she gave a good account of herself.  IPAS intends to expand the services to other women with disabilities and work with all women within their resources to ensure that no one is left behind.

Mrs. Bukola Azeez representing the Director, FCT-HEALTH, in her speech assured DWAN that their desire to have a sign language interpreter in all health advertisement is receiving attention. The training conducted, there will be process in place to step it down and more health workers to be trained to ensure that no one is left behind in healthcare services.

Theophilus Odaudu Program Officer, Disability Rights Fund (DRF) in his goodwill message appreciates the US embassy and all the organizations who supported the training of these health workers. He emphasized on patients’ rights which the inability to communicate with the health providers is a denial of the rights of the patients. So, sign language interpreting in the hospitals is one way of ensuring the rights of the patients especially for deaf persons. He reassured the DPOs in Nigeria that DRF is open to fund DPOs but their interest is on advancement of disability rights in Nigeria and DWAN also have opportunity to apply especially on the advancement of sign language in Nigeria as a right because DRF do not fund direct service to persons with disabilities.

Mrs. Morenike Akinmutimi speaking at the event on behalf of the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), assures the DWAN of the commitment of the commission to defend the rights of any person with disability and urge persons with disabilities to report to the commission whenever their rights are violated.

Mohammed Adelani, National Vice President, NNAD felicitated with the DWAN FCT for the good work they are doing and urge the trainees to ensure that they put every effort to ensure that other health workers communicate effectively with deaf people in the hospitals and NNAD will ensure that this noble project is taken to other states.

Ekaete Umoh presented a paper on the topic: Making Healthcare more accessible for the Deaf with Sign language.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to the trainees.

Adi Gani Esther, a nurse in Wuse General Hospital, Nwaigwe Miracle, a nurse in Kubwa General Hospital in sharing their experiences from the training expressed happiness that they have added an addition language that will assist their work and they are excited to have gotten the opportunity, they pleaded for more training and for the training to be extended to their colleagues. They displayed a signing of their names to show the audience that they have learnt some basic sign languages in the last six weeks.  

The event witnessed the presence of Director, Special Duties, Health and Human Services, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, National Vice President, Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, Mohammed Adelani, Chief Investigation/ Disability Desk Officer, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Mrs. Morenike Akinmutimi, The Assistant Director(PPP) FCT- HEALTH Director, Mrs Bukola Azeez, The Program Officer, Nigeria, Disability Rights Funds, the Country Director, IPAS Barrister Hauwa Shekarau, former JONAPWD President, Ekaete Umoh, The Publisher, The Qualitative Magazine(A disability Advocacy Magazine) Agbo Chris, Health Workers, Members of NNAB and other persons with disabilities.

 On September, 23^rd, 2017, the United Nations set aside every September, 23^rd as the International Day of Sign Language (IDSL) for all member countries to observe and raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are Deaf. IDSL is also a day celebrated yearly across the world along with international week for the deaf. The 2019 theme is Sign Language Rights for all.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

by Chris Agbo

 The former Permanent Secretary of Federal Capital Territory and the promoter of Doveland International School, Engr. (Dr) Johnny Chukwu on 19^th September, 2019 at Global Hope Integrated Empowerment Foundation) GHIEF program in Abuja which he chaired called for more attention and care for children with disabilities in school setting. In his remark, he expressed concern about the challenges the schools and school boards faced in ensuring that they achieve inclusive education. Inclusive Education having been captured in the United Nation Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all those working in the school setting in Nigeria should not rest until inclusive education is achieved so that Nigeria will keep tab with education development pattern world over.

He went further to suggest that since the theme of this year’s UN international day for the persons with disabilities is ‘the future is accessible, we should start looking at inclusion at its entirety because beyond the school, there are more challenges facing persons with disabilities which deeply affect their means of livelihood. We should start to make provisions that will enhance access for persons with disabilities to help guarantee a better future for them after school.

There should inclusion in other sphere of life, disability friendly facilities like ramps, lifts, elevators etc in all public buildings such as banks, offices, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, markets, shopping malls, hotels, recreational centre etc. Our transportation system should be made accessible, our commercial buses and trains should be equipped with disability friendly facilities.

Employment quota captured in the new disability law should be taken seriously, wherever vacancies exist, let the 5 percent be reserved for persons with disabilities and the private sector should be advised and encouraged to do the same.

It is a known fact that if persons with disabilities occupy important positions in the government, advancement of their cause will yield faster result. Political parties should involve disability issues in their manifestoes, make their offices accessible and create disability desk officers to engage persons with disabilities more, reserve some percentage for PWDs in their party’s elective positions and do same in the nomination of candidates for the general elections. This, without doubt will surely encourage political participation among persons with disabilities and subsequently bring them to the position where they can influence policies that will improve their living.

He called on the all policy makers to take disability related issues seriously because poverty dwells more among persons with disabilities and if poverty must be curbed, processes that will open up our space for total mainstreaming of persons with disabilities into scheme of things should be encouraged. That’s one way we can trigger development faster in Nigeria.

Global Hope Integration Empowerment Foundation (GHIEF) is a non-government organization that focuses on the improvement of the lives of children with intellectual disabilities and their families by ensuring that the society make positions to integrate them properly in all aspect of the living. On 19^th September, 2019, GHIEF organized a one-day training workshop to equip teachers in the Federal Capital Territory with the skills of managing children with special needs in their schools. The participants were drawn from schools across FCT and FCT secondary board were actively involved in the training and resource persons were special educator who are experts in the field with many years of experience. The workshop was characterized with a presentations and question and answer.

by Chris Agbo

Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC) among other DRF grantees was selected to organize the First DRF/DRAF Grantees Convening in Nigeria in Abuja. It was a 3-day program held from 24-26 September, 2019 with participants drawn from Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs), grantees of DRF/ DRAF and prospective grantees of DRF and disability cluster groups heads.

Dr. Irene Patrick-Ogbogu, Executive Director of DRAC in her opening speech welcomed the participants and urged them to learn and get enough information that will assist their organizations in accessing grant from DRF. She said that every organization here was carefully selected for a reason and if an organization is not yet a grantee of DRF, the information from this workshop, could be of help to equip them to apply and get DRF grant.

Theophilus Odaudu the programme officer of DRF/DRAF in Nigeria stated that the grantees convening is important at this time because of the following;

1. To enhance the understanding of DRF/DRAF grantees and other DPOs of the DRF/DRAF grantmaking process and ideology.
2. To discuss developments and challenges arising from project implementation by grantees as well as identify effective advocacy strategies for implementation of the CRPD and SDGs.
3. To identify strategies to increase the diversity of the disability movement in Nigeria and ensure that the voices of marginalized groups are amplified in the movement.
4. To discuss the newly enacted Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and how grantees and other DPOs can be involved in monitoring implementation at all levels.
5. To identify possible areas of collaboration among grantees to build a cohesive movement and avoid duplication.
6. To discuss the development of a country strategy for Nigeria by identifying priority areas in the implementation of the CRPD and SDGs.
7. To develop a list of practical actions and resources available to participants in all areas discussed during the Grantee Convening.

The event was characterized with information sharing, Panel discussion, Grantee led group work and exercise and Technical sessions with Presentations by subject matter experts.

Theophilus Odaudu for the benefit of the prospective grantees, took the participants through what DRF is all about and what DRF/DRAF can fund and what they cannot fund.  This afforded prospective grantees to understand DRF/DRAF system which will help them in their applications.

The Grantees shared their progress report through an exercise from where they were before the DRF grant and where they are with DRF/DRAF grants, their challenges and opportunities were also shared in a drawing graphic form which was displayed on the walls for DPOs to see and learn from each other.

Melanie Kawano-Chiu of DRF/DRAF took the participants through DRF/DRAF strategy, Logframe and theory of change.

The likes of Jake Epelle(The Albino Foundation(TAF), Shakira Bashiru(She Writes Women), Ibrahim Ajayi(representing The deaf-Blind) and Ndifreke Andrew Essien( FAECARE Foundation were discussants in a panel discussion on building an inclusive movement. It was moderated by Mrs Grace Foluke Idowu (ILP). These representatives of marginalized group shared their experiences and proffer ways that they can be properly mainstreamed into the disability rights movement in Nigeria.

The participants were taken through how to document their success stories by Noel Balogun (DRAC) and the Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele x-rayed the Discrimination against persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act for the participants and the participants embarked on an exercise to proffer strategies on how to effectively push for implementation.

The participants were also taken through how CRPD relates with SDGs and how DPOs can apply them in designing their programmes.

The Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) Grace Jerry shared the advocacy strategies her association adopted for advancement of disability rights in Nigeria. Participants learnt additional advocacy skills that will help them to carry out their activities more effective.

The participants at the event were DRF/DRAF Granteees such as Nigeria Association of the Blind FCT(NAB-FCT), ILP, Inclusive Friends Association(IFA), Halt Hope Foundation, DRAC, Centre For Citizens With Disabilities(CCD), Nigeria Association of Persons with Intellectual Disability, Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria, Development Partners such OSIWA and CBM, DPOs such as Nigeria Association of the Blind(NAB), SCIAN, IDEA, Deaf Blind Association, Quality Life for people with special needs, She Writes Woman, FACIP, JONAPWD, National Association of Persons with physical disabilities(NAPWPD), NNA, DIP, DRC, The Albino Foundation(TAF), AWWDI, and FAECARE Foundation

A representative of OSIWA, Bright Ekweremmadu of Christofel Blind Mission (CBM) and James Lalu from Plateau state Disability Board gave their goodwill messages at the beginning of the event.

The event going by what we saw at the gallery walk and our interaction with the participants, provided the requisite information about DRF/DRAF to the participants and they believe that it was a forum for information sharing and networking. Some requested that DRF in collaboration with DRAC should periodically organized programmes for DPOs to come together and learn new strategies.

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) was established in 2008 to support persons with disabilities around the world to build diverse movement, ensure inclusive development agendas and achieve equal rights and opportunity for all. And its sister fund, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF) supports persons with disabilities in the developing world to advance legal frameworks to realize their rights. They focused on Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.

DRF/DRAF grants supports both marginalized and emergent groups of persons with disabilities to advance their rights as well as the ongoing efforts of national, state, provincial, regional and districts level DPOs to advance CRPD implementation.

Their donors are The Ansara Family Fund of the Boston Foundation, the Ford Foundation, The Estelle Friedman Gervis Family Foundation, The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, the Foundation to promote Open Society, part of the Open Society Foundation, and UKAID from the U.K government(DFID and Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

DRF/DRAF awarded their first grants in Nigeria in 2018 and another set of grants in 2019. For both years, they have awarded a combined total of $304, 800 in 13grants to 9 DPOs in Nigeria.

DPOs in Nigeria have used the funds towards a range of issues which converge around core themes such as building DPO advocacy capacity on CRPD and legislative advocacy, supporting DPO-led advocacy efforts, resulting in the passage of a national disability rights law in Nigeria and CRPD awareness raising among PWDs in subnational and rural communities, DPOs in Nigeria have most commonly used DRF/DRAF funding to implement programs focused on CRPD Article 13(Access to Justice), Article 24( Inclusive Education) and Article 25(Health), Article 4(General Obligations), Article 9( Accessibility) and Article 29( Political Participation).

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT:

by Chris Agbo

The Country Director, Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) Bright Ekweremmadu speaking in the First DRF/DRAF Grantees Convening in Nigeria on Tuesday expressed his disappointment over the way Persons with disabilities are handling their own issues. There is a saying that he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. Imagine a situation where persons with disabilities are divided, fighting among themselves, not ready to work as a team and are very selfish in their interest, beat his imagination.

He reminded that we were all alive in Nigeria during the endemic of HIV/AIDS. We must have noticed what happened then, the people who fought most were people living with HIV/AIDS, as an umbrella body not as individuals. At conferences and conventions, they fought themselves and mostly for what would be beneficiary to the generality of the persons living with HIV/AIDS. Even though, some of them have their individuals NGOs, they didn’t allow their own interest to jettison the interest of the umbrella body at the national.

He recalled that when he came to CBM, the first task before him was the leadership crisis in Joint National Associations of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD). He was told that it was a no-go area that nobody should talk about it, it is like a cult. National Human Rights Commission and other major stakeholders have made effort to resolve it and CBM did their bit to resolve the crisis but after all the efforts, time and money, the crisis persist. It is selfishness that will make one to say that if it is not me, no other persons can occupy the leadership position of JONAPWD.

He counselled that we should learn to be good followers also. Some leaders in JONAPWD have made their mark and some have equally made money, some even have their children schooling abroad but there are over 20 million Nigerians with disabilities who are suffering in need of JONAPWD at the centre be more organized and cooperative to speak for them because they can speak for themselves. Leaders here at the centre are fighting and quarreling to the detriment of the majority meanwhile the same JONAPWD have given these leaders so much in life.

He advised that persons with disabilities can only achieve so much if we can come together, be more organized, speak with one language and one voice, occupy important positions. That is when enough success can be achieve for the good of those who cannot speak for themselves. PWDs should begin now to start speaking to themselves and found reason to work together for the sake of peace and progress.    

By Disability Equal Rights Newswatch

(UN HEADQUARTERS NEW YORK: September 27, 2019) – Ms. Zahra Buhari, while representing and receiving the prestigious, “World Peace Award,” on behalf of her mother, Her Excellency Hajiya (Dr.) Aisha Buhari, at the UN Headquarters, New York, vowed to work in collaboration with the First Lady and continue with her family’s excellent historic Legacy made by fully protecting and promoting the rights, equality and dignity of over 27 million Nigerians with Disabilities and every Nigerian family because every Nigerian family has one or more persons with Disabilities inside their respective families.

In response to Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom’s direct question on, if she will be following the footsteps of the Late Mahatma Gandhi’s excellent Legacy being passed down to every new Gandhi generation, she promised to ensure that her father’s in assenting to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, into law, must be fully implemented and be passed down to every Buhari’s new generation.

She promised Chief Ufom that she will directly start working with her mother, to ensure that an Independent, Implementation Commission will be established on or before the first anniversary of the Disabilities Rights Law.

Mrs. Archana Prasa (Gandhi), a great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi of India, while receiving the prestigious World Peace Award on behalf her father, Arun Gandhi, presented brief historic video of Mahatma Gandhi’s excellent legacy and proudly explained clearly how it is being passed down to every Gandhi new generation.

This year will mark 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s movement and Legacy. Mrs. Archana Prasa (Gandhi), indicated that she will put a hold on presenting the World Peace Award to her father, until day of celebrating her great grandfather’s 150th Anniversary.

“Since 1914 Nigeria’s amalgamation and 1960 independent, no single law that protects and promotes the rights of Nigerians with Disabilities, until, January 23, 2019, whereby President Muhammadu Buhari, who were directly support by the First Lady, Her Excellency, Hajiya (Dr.) Aisha Buhari, made huge history by assenting into law, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. It showed that President Buhari, is not just a President for the reach and famous, but also for the poor and less privileged people. With this new law, he touched the lives of every Nigerian family. This is the best huge Legacy made by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari.” said Chief Ufom

“Our 27 million Nigerians with Disabilities and families daily prayers saved President Buhari’s life when on several occasion he was very sick and I thank God he knew it and paid us back by signing that needed Disabilities Rights law for us. What we needed now is an independent Implementation Commission, which will guarantee, full implementation of the, Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, signed and ratified by Nigeria on March 30, 2007 and September 24, 2010, respectively,  Disability-Inclusive Development/Annual budgets, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda and continuity of sponsored programs and services by national and international donor nations and agencies.” concluded Chief Ufom. 

The September 25, 2019, High-Level ‘CELEBRATION OF PEACE AWARD’ night held inside the United Nations Headquarters, New York, which opened wider doors to this historic Legacy being championed by Ms. Zahra Buhari and her mother, was directly organized by the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nation, World Peace Organization and Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development SV-NED Inc, as a side-event during the ongoing 74th Session of the UN General Assembly’s Climate Change Summit 2019. HRM (Arc) King Adedapo Aderami Adeen, The Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Secretary, (BoT), National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Abuja and Convener-General: Council of Traditional Rulers Leaders of Africa (COTLA); Dr. Hajo Sani (OON), Senior Special Assistant to the President, Office of the wife of the President; Her Excellency, Dame Pauline Tallen (OFR), Minister of Women Affairs and former Deputy Governor of Plateau State; the First Lady of Sokoto State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Mariya Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, First Lady of Bauchi State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Hadiza Ma Abubakar, The wife of the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representative of Nigeria, the Wife of Nigeria’s council General in London, UK , Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, Her Royal Highness the queen mother, Temitope Ajayi, Mr. David Traub were among the High-Level dignitaries who graced the occasion.

by Chris Agbo

Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) in a letter addressed to President Buhari which was titled INAUGURATION OF THE “NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 31 OF THE “DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES(PROHIBITION) ACT, 2018” signed by the President Barrister Daniel Onwe and the Secretary Barrister Gaius Ogan expressed their appreciation to the President for his magnanimity in assenting the “Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018” into law which past Presidents had bluntly refused to sign which portrayed them as being insensitive to the challenges and pains that the average person living with disability in Nigeria experiences on a daily basis. This law no doubt has brought Nigeria into the committee of nations that have created an inclusive society.

ALDIN in the letter also reminded the President that in as much as the Act is a crucial part of the odyssey to an inclusive society, it cannot in itself be effective without the wheels that will propel it. The urgent inauguration of the “National Commission on Persons with Disabilities” will complete the success story of this act in the life of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. The Act without the establishment of the Commission is like rifle without a bullet.

By Diana Omueza/ Adebola Adegoke

Lagos – Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged stakeholders to adopt the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act as a major tool towards the effective implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act.

Mr David, Anyaele, Executive Director of the group said this on Thursday at a one day stakeholders’ strategic meeting for Person with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lagos.

Anyaele was represented by Mrs Chima Austin, Head of Admin and Finance, CCD Lagos.

He said that the FOI Act would help in entrenching an open government in which PWDS could have active voices in governance and contribute to policy decisions.

According to him, the act is one law that recognises the right of people with physical disabilities and provides that PWDs and educational challenged persons can apply through a third party or by an oral application.

“Adopting a comprehensive FOI act would enhance the full and effective implementation of the national disability law.

“The act affords everyone regardless of tribe, age, creed, a right of access to information or records held by public institutions and relevant private entities, irrespective of the form in which such information or records are kept.

“It also penalises the wrongful denial of information, destruction, falsification or alteration of information or records, or any attempt to do any of these things,” he said.

He urged PWDs and stakeholders to invoke the use of the FOI act through complaints, petitions and requests, in order to hold states and non-states actors accountable and to gain inclusion in government at all levels.

Mrs Ihuoma Kelechi, Assistant Secretary of National Association of PWDs Lagos chapter, called for prompt response to request written to both the federal and state government.

“The government at all levels would only show concern for PWDs if they quickly respond to request with immediate steps and actions to back their supports,” she said.

Mr Dare Dairo, Chairman Physically Challenged Cluster, Lagos chapter, also called for quick response, while urging PWDs and stakeholders not to antagonise the government in the process of making request.

He, however, called for a stronger relationship between stakeholders and the government at all levels to achieve the desired outcome.

The meeting which was funded by ActionAid — a global movement of people fighting for women’s rights, social justice and an end to poverty.

Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a foremost human right organisation of, and for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) that works to educate, support and empower PWDs and their families to maximise their potential.

By Disability Equal Rights Newswatch

On September 25, 2019 at UN HEADQUARTERS NEW YORK during the UN General Assembly’s Climate Change Summit 2019, at its High-Level, World Peace Awards Ceremony, Side-Event, Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Buhari, while presenting the prestigious award to Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc, said that the establishment of an Independent, Implementation Commission for the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, will take place before  one year anniversary of the Act.

Dr. Hajo Sani, OON, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Office of the wife of the President, said this on behalf of Her Excellent, while representing her.

Her Excellency, Dame Pauline Tallen, OFR, Minister of Women Affairs and former Deputy Governor of Plateau State at UN Headquarters, New York, also said that a Disabilities Rights Commission will be established soon by the President.

Also present at the Ward Ceremony were, HRM (Arc) King Adedapo Aderami Adeen, The Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Secretary, (BoT), National Council of Traditional Rullers of Nigeria, Abuja and Convener-General: Council of Traditional Rulers Leaders of Africa (COTLA); the First Lady of Sokoto State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Mariya Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, First Lady of Bauchi State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Hadiza Ma Abubakar, The wife of the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representative of Nigeria, the Wife of Nigeria’s council General in London, UK , Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter, and many other dignitaries.

January 23, 2020, will mark one-year anniversary, which President Muhammadu Buhari assented it into law.

Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, in response, said that since 1914 history of Nigeria, there was no single law to protect and promote the rights, equality and dignity of persons with Disabilities and every Nigerian family because every Nigerian family has one or more persons with disabilities inside our respective families, until more than one hundred years later, January 23, 2019.

“This is the best and biggest historic Legacy made by President Buhari and his family,” said Chief Ufom.

Chief Ufom then made a personal request from Ms. Zahra Buhari, who was present at the award ceremony to represent her mother, the First Lady, to continue with this Buhari’s excellent historic legacy by championing the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission and ensuring its full implementations.

On behalf of 27 million Nigerians with Disabilities and every Nigerian family, Chief Ufom thanked President Buhari and the First Lady for this new Disability Rights Law. He also thank the World Award Foundation, Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic

People with Disability (PWD) have expressed concern over how corruption in government affects their welfare and urged the Kaduna State government to facilitate the passage of the People With Disability Bill currently at the House of Assembly. The chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Kaduna State chapter, Suleiman Abdulazeez, said this  at a workshop on ‘Strengthening Citizens’ Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption’ organised in Kaduna by the Centre For Citizens With Disability (CCD).

He said  corruption in government denied  members of the association their rights to good healthcare and other facilities in the state adding: “Funds that should be used to cater for Nigerians are being mismanaged.”

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The Senior Programme Officer of CCD, Kola Ogunbiyi, encouraged people with disabilities to ensure the passage of the bill.

“If the disability bill is passed it will guarantee equality and access, and we will begin to have a better society.  

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