The Albino Foundation Public Notice
By Oliver Nweke
A coalition of Non-governmental Organisation have agreed to host the first world summit for persons with disability to commemorate the International day for persons with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Mr James Lalu who inaugurated the committee said that the summit is slated to hold December 3rd 2021.
Lalu commended the various stakeholders for agreeing to collapse all their individual activities to jointly organize the summit. W
“We appreciate you so deeply for showing this type of passion for this assignment and for accepting to work for the community of persons with disabilities.
He noted that the dream for this summit was conceived some years ago, aimed at celebrating PWD, ,”we in the disability community will hold Nigeria to a stand still, we will make all Nigerians to be well aware of the plights of PWD. We must bring disability issues to the front burner for national discuss.
Earlier the President and founder of Albinism Foundation Mr Jake Epelle promised that the committee will work tirelessly to ensure the overall success of the summit and make sure every organization assist to mobilize resources.
He said, “I want to challenge all of us that it it’s time for us to take over the leadership of disability in Africa, from Kenya. Kenya is at the forefront of disability movement in Africa, and yet Kenya is only one or two states of Nigeria put together”.
“I believe that with the likes of individuals that are in this room, we will work assiduously to ensure that not only will we occupy the leadership of disability movement in Africa, but in the world”.
Mr Chike Okogwu, Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowermentsaid that Mr Lalu is an amazing leader with vision.
He added that though the commission was not where it was supposed to be yet, but stressed that, “we are definitely not where we used to be.
“I was crippled even though I was still crippled physically, but not mentally, but I was crippled then because we didn’t have an enabling law to make my representation effective for the lives of persons with disabilities.
“my organisation has a program we are actually working on, we are already working on the budget. Since no one is greater than the community, I hereby cancel our programs, hand over everything that we have done from the planning and everything, and our sponsors
“At the end of this summit, we want to correct that impression that it is also possible to put our best foot forward, best voices forward and best vision forward.
Dr. Irene Patrick-Ogbogu, Executive Director of Disability Rights Advocacy Centre said that the day gives visibility to the issues of PWDs as well as hold the duty barriers accountable.
“I hereby pledge our commitment, the commitment of DRAC as an organization, the commitment of our funders who are currently founding us to support this summits
Mrs Peace Ezekiel, Representing Mr. David Obinna Anyaele, CEO, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, Rasaq Adekoye the Program advisor for west Africa, Sight Savers and Dr. Hussaini Kangiwa, the Chairman, Governing Board, NCPWD all pledged to actively participate in the summit.
Dr. Hussaini Kangiwa, said, “today’s inauguration, coincidentally marks the beginning of another milestone 15 years after the convention came into force in 2008 to concentrate on the issue of persons with disability.
“The main objective of this event is to constitute the committee that will successfully organized a formal program that will help drum up well publicized awareness and sensitization as they plan disabilities summit, which come up on 3rd December 2021.
“The summit is to host critical stakeholders on disability issues, political officer holders, especially governors who have also signed into law the disability act in their receptive states.
