But the university — which seeks to become carbon neutral by 2025 — said the product will be scrapped from its campus menu when the new academic year begins.
“The changes come as part of a major drive to cut carbon use across Goldsmiths as the College joins other universities and institutions in declaring a climate emergency and announcing a determined aim to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2025,” Corner said.
“I truly believe we face a defining moment in global history and Goldsmiths now stands shoulder to shoulder with other organizations willing to call the alarm and take urgent action to cut carbon use.
“The growing global call for organisations to take seriously their responsibilities for halting climate change is impossible to ignore.
“Though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible.”
In 2017, through the DFID-funded Catalyst Project, IDA and its members decided to support DPOs to increase their capacities to engage fully with national and international SDGs and human rights monitoring processes and strengthen their advocacy through building robust evidence.
Since then, IDA members both at the regional and national level have undertaken writing comprehensive, evidence-based reports to provide a substantive understanding of how the SDGs are being implemented at the national or regional level for persons with disabilities in line with the CRPD. All six of IDA’s regional members volunteered to develop reports and national level members of members applied throughout their global or regional IDA members.
Both the regional and national reports were developed and led by DPOs, and thus highlighted different thematic areas, reflected national and regional priorities, and collected data with different methodologies.
Whilst being directed by DPOs, the reports had two requirements;
To have a cross-disability perspective
To include a section on women and girls with disabilities
Report writers have used their completed reports in a variety of advocacy areas, and have noted that the process of developing the reports has led to:
Increased engagements and collaboration with government ministries,
Strengthening partnerships with UN agencies and civil society networks,
New data produced by analysis of surveys, budgets, and statistics from a CRPD perspective
Data which has led to securing grants for further regional and national level investment in disability inclusion, and
Increased network building and advocacy within regional and global SDG forums
CBM and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) have released findings on the first ever disability audit of humanitarian projects in Nigeria. The report was presented at high-level workshop on disability inclusive humanitarian action in Abuja, in July 2019, a few days after a capacity building workshop in the north-east of the country.
First humanitarian disability audit
In 2018, the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) commissioned CBM and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, the umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities to review disability inclusion in four humanitarian projects funded by the North East Nigeria Transition to Development (NENTAD) programme. This was the first time such a review has been conducted of DFID’s humanitarian programmes.
The review applied the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities and included a desk review, a self-assessment questionnaire, key informant interviews, observations of project sites and focus group discussions with community members, including people with disabilities. Data was analysed, findings validated with partners and initial action plans developed. Read the key findings at end of article, and for more details, see the Policy Brief: Involving people with disabilities in humanitarian response.
Dissemination workshop, high-level event and next steps
Participant during the Maidiguri workshop
In July 2019, in collaboration with DFID, CBM’s country office in Nigeria facilitated a dissemination workshop of the NENTAD disability review in Maiduguri and a high-level event in Abuja on disability-inclusive humanitarian action. Technical support was provided by CBM Emergency Response Unit. One of the aims of the workshop was to identify the capacity development requirements of the NENTAD partners in disability inclusive humanitarian response and agree on the next steps on how to collectively address these.
During the high-level event in Abuja, Haruna Pali from the Nigeria Association of Blind said, “I come from the North East zone, and I know how our people are suffering, especially children … Therefore, I want to thank CBM for implementing projects in this zone and really involving our members in the projects so that we can learn and benefit. With the experience and knowledge we gained, we started advocating for our rights.”
Bright Ekweremadu, CBM Country Director for Nigeria said, “The findings from the disability inclusion audit on the North East Nigeria Transition to Development (NENTAD) humanitarian response programme was an eye opener to me. Lessons and recommendations from it will, I believe, enrich future humanitarian programmes in Nigeria with more measurable impacts for persons with disability.”
Access in internally displaced persons’ camps
Zara, a mother of seven and a woman with disabilities had been living in an Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camp for two years before receiving any support. She said that support for IDPs was not reaching her family, and even when support was available at the camp, it was usually not easy for someone with a physical disability to access.
In 2017, Zara received food and non-food items through the CBM-supported project. She was very thankful and said that she had never seen any organisation do such a thing for persons with a disability.
Key findings
A complex humanitarian context and security situation contributes to the challenges for disability inclusion in humanitarian programming.
Disability inclusion must become the norm for humanitarian action.
Inclusion should be taken into account at all stages of the project cycle, including the initial needs assessment and subsequent design and planning of humanitarian response.
Improvements in the participation of men and women with disabilities are needed across the entire project cycle management; to achieve this, budgets need to incorporate necessary adaptations and accessibility measures.
Collecting and disaggregating data about people with disabilities is key to effective inclusion in humanitarian operations.
Technical capacity building for staff in inclusion and ongoing support to adopt inclusive practices is needed.
Applying a twin track approach to humanitarian programming empowers people with disabilities and meets their specific needs, whilst also working to ensure inclusion is mainstreamed.
Humanitarian actors should take every opportunity to build awareness about disability inclusion. (Inclusivenews)
• As It Begins Change-Maker Editions Of Glo-Sponsored African Voices As the Change Makers editions of the Globacom-sponsored CNN African Voices began yesterday, the thrust of the 30-minute magazine programme will be the dexterities of Nigerian artificial limb makers who have given hope to some clients with limbs problems.
Viewers of the programme will find the story of Crystal Chigbu, Nigerian prosthetics maker, and Gbolahan Sasona another limb restorer fascinating as Crystal narrates the experience of how her daughter’s congenitally malformed limb had to be amputated.
Crystal Chigbu, Nigerian prosthetics maker
Crystal, a mother of two, weathered the storm and rose from the trauma of the monumental misfortune to found and nurture a Foundation, named Irede Foundation which, as the Chief Executive, has navigated it to a body which has gained wide acclaim as succour-giver to other children whose limbs had been severed due to one health issue or another.
The 2002 Biochemistry graduate of University of Lagos recounts with emotion the trauma, shock, and the challenges that she went through when the reality of having to raise a daughter who was born with congenital limb deformity dawned on her, the most harrowing being the process and struggles she and her husband went through while trying to make a decision on whether to amputate or not.
“Seeing other children and families go through the same process without a clear view on how to adapt to the challenges of living with limb loss, gave vent to the creation of Irede Foundation which has, since inception, restored hope to children living with loss of limbs”, she disclosed.”
According to her, “We understand that children can help educate their friends in school; that way we can educate a whole nation – and we can reduce societal stigmatisation. In addition, when a child starts using prosthesis from childhood you are helping in shaping the beliefs of the child and his or her ability to believe they can do anything. More importantly, they can live their lives to the fullest not minding the limb loss they must have gone through.”
In recognition and appreciation of her humane activities, Crystal received the Life Transformation Award from Wise Women Awards; the Ebony Life TV sponsored Sisterhood Award for Philanthropist of the year (2014), as well as the Naija Diamonds Award (2014) sponsored by Diamond Bank.
The second guest, Gbolahan Sasona, a Prosthetist and Orthotist, is the President of America-based Delta Orthopaedic Laboratory. In addition, he established The Ability Prosthetic and Orthotic Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in the bid to help the transformation of the lives of amputees with prosthetics/orthotics, spinal braces and fracture bracing of different kinds.
The centre, the first of its kind in Nigeria, brags of a rich, computerised prosthetics and orthotics experience and professional medical rehabilitation advocacy of the 67-year-old Sasona, whose passion became the catalyst for the passage of the regulatory licensing law for prosthetics practitioners in the United States of America. Sasona’s clinical laboratories in Dover and New Jersey, USA, employ advanced technology with an advanced medical rehabilitation centre that provides prosthetic services including sport orthotic, limbs/elbow/finger replacement with bionics.
“Patients don’t have to travel to South Africa, United Kingdom, India or United States to be able to get the kind of effective treatment and care they desire. Whatever we do in the Nigerian office is of the same standard with that of the United States”, he boasted. (The Guardian)
Aver Akighir is a woman with disability from Gboko, Benue state who had disability as a result of accident which led to her amputation. A graduate of English from Benue State University. A football player currently the captain of Amputee Football Federation of Nigeria, a board member of Amputees collation of Nigeria, the founder of Benue Diva’s hangout (a meetings of young girls with disability) and co-founder of Questaid Foundation. She found love in baking, hairstyling, motivational speaking and above all a renowned disability rights advocate through her disability-oriented TV program known as Possibilities TV show.
Possibilities
TV show is a program on Catholic TV(CTV) where persons with disabilities come
to share the stories behind their scales, fears, aspirations, what they are doing,
what they have been through, what they intent to be in future. The program is
aim at encouraging other PWD’s and parents of PWD’s who have giving up on
themselves and also educating the public on the plights of persons with
disabilities. The responses from the public has been amazing and the effect on
the public has been very positive.
This
noble TV program has been struggling for sponsorship to the extent that it is
at the verge of folding up. It needs urgent support from the public to sustain
it. The founder and the presenter, Aver Akighir in her Facebook timeline at 1.10pm
on August 7, 2019 said the following “putting
together Possibilities TV program has not been easy. Sometimes even what to
wear and go on air I don’t have talk more of the air fee for airing my program,
I have thought of giving up so many times but each time the thought is so
strong someone out there will just show up to encourage me. What am I trying to
say here; see you ,yes you reading this message right now can be of help to
this program by either paying for our air time on any TV station of your choice
,or you can sponsor our trip to go out in any of the states to record those
challenged persons who want to share their stories of survival to the world, or
you can sponsor wears for the presenter of this program . By so doing God will
bless you and you are also contributing in helping the voice of the vulnerable
group in the society to be heard”.
You
can support this program through donations and advert placements. It will be
nice for the general public to come to the rescue of this program. It will be
disheartening if this program is allowed to go into extinction.
Call
Aver Akighir on 08068554752 for further enquires and please make your donations
to support the program to Account details: Aver Akighir, Gtbank: 0139406095.
Nothing will be too small to help sustain this noble program.
Studio address: Opposite Holy Rosary Catholic church, 51, Mambolo street, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja (The Last floor is Catholic TV office).
In an effort to ensure that persons with disabilities have a
sense of belonging in the Society, Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo representing
Adamawa North at the National Assembly has advocated for the establishment of a
commission to take care of the persons with disabilities in the country and
pledges 20% of his earnings in support of the cause of people living with
disability in Adamawa state.
Abbo who made the remark at an interactive dinner with
people living with disability in Yola, Adamawa state, said it is high time that
public facilities and national planning in the country should begin to factor
the special need of the persons with disabilities.
“I will personally organize a National seminar with donor
agencies so that we can sit and work out a Blueprint for the establishment of
your commission and move the motion for its establishment and I am sure every
senator in the country will be glad to be co-sponsors of it.” He saidThe
senator also assured them of the readiness of the current National Assembly to
ensure the establishment of commission for people with disabilities.
“I will put the matter forward to my colleagues; I will call
you again so that we can meet with your national and state bodies, I want to
assure you that all the senators in this 9th National Assembly are willing to
say yes to the establishment of a commission”. Abbo added
Senator Ishaku Abbo announced that he will appoint one
person with disability as his advisers as a first step in his commitment to
fighting the cause of the persons with
disabilities.
“Am giving 20% of everything that comes to me as a senator
such as salaries, allowances and other entitlements to physically challenged
persons and would be there for you whenever you need me.” Abbo said
The Senator expressed concern over the plight of persons
with disabilities in the country while accessing public buildings and
facilities at airports, office buildings, toilet facilities, among others,
noting that it was designed without consideration for the special needs of the
physically challenged.
Abbo who narrated his personal ordeal that confined him to a
wheelchair said he understands the plight of a person with disability from his experience assured to fight for their
right to be heard and be included in national planning and policy
The Deputy Governor of Ogun state, Her Excellency, Alhaja chief Mrs Noimot Salako Oyedele, has said that the government is planning to empower persons with disability and institute a vocational training centre to cater to the need of special people very soon in the state.
Her Excellency mooted this while receiving members of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD) led by its chairman, Comrade Olalekan Mohammed and his entrouges, in her office.
She assured that government would leave no stone unturned in addressing the plight of persons with disability.
Her Excellency further hinted that government is planning empowerment and vocational training centre which will soon commence activities in the state.
She also reiterated government’s plan to see to the welfare of people with special need in the state. She added that the issue of the disability bill would be looked into to ensure egalitarian society for all in Ogun state.
Olalekan, while expressing gratitude to the deputy Governor for the privilege given them to visit her Excellency, he highlighted some of the challenges persons with disability are facing in Ogun state.
He called for inclusive and enabling environment where people with disabilities would be able to maximise their God given potentials against all odds.
He advocated for the establishment of disability commission for persons with disabilities in the state to ensure full and active involvement of persons with disabilities in matters related to them. He further asked for employment and empowerment of persons with disabilities into the state civil service commission.
On issues of education for persons with disabilities, Olalekan reminded Her Excellency of her pledge for quality and equitable education for all, including persons with special needs.(Inclusivenews)
The Anambra State Chairman of The Joints National
Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Hon.Ugochukwu Okeke on
behalf of the entire persons with disabilities in Anambra State heartily
felicitate with the most Disability friendly Governor in Nigeria-His Excellency
Chief Dr.Willie .M.Obiano (Oguguo ndi Olusi) on His 64th birthday celebration.
We sincerely thank His Excellency and celebrate him for making life meaningful
for persons with disabilities in Anambra state.
We would not have received special attention and care at this
time if not for his love and for that we are forever grateful.May God bless his
new age with sound health and great energy to serve the good people of Anambra
state.
Grace Jerry, The Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association who was recently grounded at the Airport by Flyethiopian for over four hours because her wheelchair footrest was misplaced by the airline officials just confirmed through the Inclusive Friends Association official Facebook page that the airline has replaced her wheelchair to make up for the missing footrest. Below is how the story was presented in her association official Facebook page.
Flyethiopian just presented the Executive Director of the Inclusive
Friends Association with a new wheel chair to augment for the missing foot
rest. The representatives of the airline apologised for any inconveniences
caused and promised to be more careful next time. The representatives also
committed that Flyethiopian is ready to work with the organisation and with
Grace Jerry as an Ambassador to be able to serve the PWD community better.
Grace Jerry appreciated the gesture and used the medium to call for a proper
treatment of persons with disabilities by airlines.
“It’s about time air companies begin to
treat persons with disabilities with dignity as they would to any
customers”, she said.
Hi Dear, my name is UzochukwuAmaka Anita Asiegbu. But
throughout my stay with you, I’ll simply be known as Amaka.
So, as this is my first episode of “My Abilities”,
let me tell you a bit about myself. I am a writer, content creator, editor,
project manager, story teller, disability advocate, gender advocate and all
things good. I am also a Nigerian living with disability.
Now you and I know how difficult, weird and challenging it
is living in Nigeria with a disability. Even without any form of disability,
you too can testify that it is stressful living in my beloved country. But your
reading this is a point out to the fact that you and I are somehow surviving the
curve balls life throws at us. Just want to say well done. There are also perks
of living with disability in Nigeria. There are times and situations my friends
will tell me that they wish they were me. So yes, living with disabilities is
not all about difficulties.
This section “My Abilities” is specifically
dedicated to views, opinions, stories, challenges, perks, rants, wishes,
lives and all those unconventional occurrences associated with living with
disabilities.
For today, I just want to let you know that having any form
of disability does not limit you from achieving your dreams. It does not
deprive you of living life to the fullest. Disability has no say in your
happiness. Your life is not over just because you have a disability. You can be
and do whatever you want. It might just appear more difficult because you have
one form of disability or the other but then when you put your mind to it, you
can do it. And after you have done it, you will realize that it wasn’t that
difficult after all. How about the joy and glory that will follow you for
achieving something every other person thought you couldn’t.
I can’t even count the number of times people act surprised
when I do seemingly difficult things ranging from cooking, cleaning, dancing, acquiring
a degree and all sorts of things that normal people do. Despite my disability, I
live a very normal life, asides my crutches, I barely require assistance to
complete everyday tasks. But people, especially Nigerians have this distorted
mindset that living with disabilities automatically amounts to being a burden
to everyone else around us. But it’s not the truth in many cases.
Now I understand that there is some form of disabilities
that require constant care and checkup. If you need human support to survive,
it is great too. It is still not a limitation. We all need our fellow humans in
one way or the other. My wish is that we all find ourselves among caring people
who will never see us as burdens.
Again, remember that your disability is not a barrier. It is
a unique feature that distinguishes you from every other people out there. Take
advantage of it and be that outstanding human you have always dreamed about.
Let’s stop here for today, join me again next time as
together we share stories that are unique to us alone. Till then, keep
surviving Nigeria.
