The Nation Newspaper

Tag: disabled persons

  • Disabled persons seek more participation in elections

    Disabled persons seek more participation in elections

    PERSONS with Disabilities (PWD) have called on National Assembly to speed up work on the harmonisation of the Disability Bill, to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address issues that discourage persons with disabilities from exercising their voting right.

    A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), made the call while briefing reporters in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on the recent governorship election in the state. The Executive Director of the group, Mr. David Anyaele, said the passing of the bill into law would minimise use of what he described as the charity-based approach by INEC to addressing disability issues.

    He said the bill is seeking to strengthen Section 52 (2) of the 2010 Electoral Act, by making the provision of Braille and Sign language interpreters mandatory in the electoral process.

    He added: “This is as opposed to leaving it to the desecration of INEC as the case is today. Also, the Anambra State House of Assembly should pass the Disability Bill that will criminalise all forms of discrimination and harmful practices against Ndi Anambra with disabilities.”

    Anyaele urged INEC to standardise its collection of data of the people in pre-election and Election Day. He said: “This is to enable them to plan for the participation of voters with different forms of disabilities.’’

    He commended the Federal Government, security agencies and INEC for providing equal rights to all the parties to ensure a free and fair election.

     

  • Politics: First Lady seeks more involvement for disabled persons

    Advocating for the physically challenged persons, Dame Patience Jonathan, has called for their increased participation in political, economic and cultural activities in the country.

    The First Lady made the call when the management of A. Aruera Reachout Foundation (AARF), an NGO, paid her a thank you visit for the successful heart surgeries performed on some children flown abroad recently.

    “It is only through this, that the total well-being of the citizenry can be achieved,’’ she said in a statement issued on Tuesday by her Special Adviser on Media, Omoba Aigbegbele.

    She called on well-meaning Nigerians to overcome all types of barriers that hinder participation of physically challenged persons in the development of the nation.

    “International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, including the mobilisation and support for the dignity, right and well-being of persons with disabilities.

    “The contributions made by these persons with disabilities as agent of change and development in our nation, cannot be over-emphasised,” she stressed.

    She enjoyed the various arms of government to take the lead in integrating such persons into the society for rejuvenation of the economy and sustainable development of the country.

    The visit of the AARF, a foundation catering for vulnerable children and children with disabilities, was part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities slated for December 3.

  • Ajimobi employs 66 ‘disabled’ persons

    Ajimobi employs 66 ‘disabled’ persons

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has employed 66 people with disabilities into the civil service.

    Special Assistant to the Governor on People With Disabilities (PWD) Prince Paul Adelabu announced this yesterday at a three-day workshop by the government in partnership with the MALE Knowledge Limited.

    It was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Adelabu said they would work across the 33 councils, adding that the Ajimobi administration was sensitive to their plight.

    He said in the last two years, over 1,000 physically-challenged were empowered and 20 deaf people given jobs at the State Waste Management Agency.

    Adelabu said they had talents and could contribute to the society’s growth.

    On the workshop, he said: “MALE Knowledge Limited and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have partnered us to train 120 ‘disabled’ leaders on entrepreneurial skills.

    “The purpose is to teach them how to handle business and access funds. These people talents and potential, so we are exposing them to business.”

  • Law to protect disabled persons soon in Ekiti

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has cautioned those who look down on the physically-challenged, especially employers.

    She said it was unfortunate that physically-challenged persons are often subjected to discrimination.

    Mrs Adelabu spoke at the opening of a three-day workshop on “Residential knowledge sharing for stakeholders in Southwest states on inclusive and disability-friendly laws and policies” at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti.

    She said the State Executive Council recently sent a bill for the passage of a Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the House of Assembly.

    Besides, the council has directed the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development to ensure that building plans henceforth conform with accessibility standards for all users, including those on wheel chairs.

    Mrs Adelabu said people with disabilities should not be pitied, feared or ignored, adding that they are respectful members of the society, who have the wherewithal to attain their dreams.

    The deputy governor said: “People with disabilities are human beings. They are people who have abilities, interests and needs. They are individuals like you and I, seeking to live normal lives, and they cut across all spheres of human endeavour.”

    Stressing that discrimination against the physically-challenged must be outlawed, she hailed organisers of the workshop, the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) and Disability Partner Initiative (DPA), for bringing stakeholders across the Southwest together to deliberate on how to change the society’s perception about people living with disability.

    Mrs Adelabu said: “You are doing a great work by bringing stakeholders in the Southwest together to identify and deliver the needed change to ensure equal opportunities for disabled people, as well as public service reforms to support their independence and participation in the formulation and implementation of policies.

    “What is needed is a bill protecting the rights for persons with disabilities and that is what this workshop is all about. People with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, privileges and freedom as everybody else.

    “The Governor Kayode Fayemi administration has disbursed N2.25 million on training and resettlement programmes for visually-impaired persons.

    “Presently, four visually-impaired persons are receiving vocational training at the Nigeria Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, Lagos.”

    The government organised a workshop to educate stakeholders on how to handle persons with disabilities in rescue and emergency situations.

    The deputy governor listed participants at the workshop as the Red Cross Society; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA); State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); the Fire Service and social workers.

    She said the Fayemi administration has a policy to employ qualified persons with disabilities.

    Mrs Adelabu said: “As we speak, the requests of 81 persons with disabilities for employment into the public service are undergoing consideration.”

    The government has spent N350,000 on the sponsorship of associations of persons with disabilities to meetings, seminars and workshops in the past seven months.

  • Oyo splashes N15m on disabled persons

    Oyo State Government yesterday restated its commitment to enhancing the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities with the empowerment of 418 disabled persons drawn from the 33 council areas of the state with items worth over N15million.

    It added that it was when people with disability are not segregated against, but included in decision-making process, that the nation could be said to be on the right path.

    Oyo State Governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, spoke at the Ajumose Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Executive Governor on Persons with Disabilities, held at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.