Persons With Disabilities To Get Massive Boost In Education Support Programmes- James Lalu
The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Mbanefo JohnMichael I, Head Media and Publicity, NCPWD
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, James David Lalu says Persons with Disabilities especially women and children will soon have access to scholarships and learning tools to aid with their educational pursuit. Lalu made this assertion today, 10th August 2021 in Abuja at a one-day meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (tagged ‘’Leave no One Behind’’).
In his remarks, the ES highlighted the growing demand by the PWDs to have access to quality education in a disability-friendly environment to accentuate the level of assimilation. He said giving formal education to disabled persons bring enormous hope to them and equally boost their self-esteem in the society.
Speaking further, he pointed to section 17 of the 2018 Prohibition Act against discrimination of Persons with disabilities which expressly provided for access to free education by PWDs.
He reiterated that scholarship awards are under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Education and that PWDs should seize the opportunity to apply.
The ES also spoke on Healthcare and Employment issues as it affect the Persons with Disabilities. He encouraged PWDs to leverage on the public healthcare programme by the Federal Government to access public healthcare facilities. He urged that PWDs should not hesitate to report any form of ill-treatment by any public health facility which has become their right by virtue of the establishment of the 2018 Act.
In terms of employment, the Commission’s helmsman announced that over 200 positions have already been mapped out to accommodate Persons with disabilities as soon as the waiver is approved. He equally informed about his recent visits to the Federal Character Commission, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and Secretary to the Government of the Federation to uphold section 29 of the 2018 Act which provides for 5% representation in employment into government offices across board.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Bashir Nura Alkali ably represented by Alhaji Ali Grema in his speech said over One billion people in the world experience some form of disabilities. He said the average prevalent rate in the female population stands at 18 years and older is 19.2% compared to 12% of their male counterparts representing about 1 in every 5 in women. He explained how vulnerable the women and girls with disabilities are to societal discrimination and abuse.
The Permanent Secretary underpinned that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals provides enormous opportunity and moral obligation for the global community to work towards achieving the set goals.
‘’No single actor or stakeholder, working alone can implement the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities prohibition Act (2018) effectively or achieve the desired inclusiveness,’’ he said.
He therefore, called on all relevant stakeholders to put their hands on deck to institutionalize the protection offered by the Act. He further described the coalition as one strategy that will evolve the modalities on the best global practices to care for women and children with disabilities.
The Director, Special Needs Department, FMHADMSD, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe in her welcome address highlighted the need to mainstream disability into all efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment as articulated in the 5th schedule of the Sustainable Development Goals. She said SDG 1 relates to issues regarding poverty and how to tackle it.
According to her, the SDG 3 expressly discusses healthy living for women and girls with disabilities. She said the objective of the meeting is basically to develop realistic strategies on care and support for women and the girl child, to provide the platform for inclusion of women and girls in the development agenda to strengthen capacity of CSOs/ NGOs working on women and girls with disabilities.
