Stereotype Reports About Persons With Disabilities Must Cease – SEN. TANKO ALMAKURA

The Albino Foundation Public Notice

The law has taken care of the needs of persons with disabilities, for instance free education without discrimination or segregation for children till secondary level, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is supposed to provide assistive devices and much more

Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has described as unfair the way and manner some media outlets report stories and events of persons with disabilities adding that they stereotype them by focusing on the disability rather than the achievement of the person.

He also called on all persons with disability to have a copy of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 just signed by President Muhammadu Buhari and use it as a tool to demand for their rights.

“Knowing your rights empowers you to demand for them as it is backed by law, but if you are ignorant of the law, you will be left hanging and disappointed.

“The law has taken care of the needs of persons with disabilities, for instance free education without discrimination or segregation for children till secondary level, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is supposed to provide assistive devices and much more”.

“Brail, sign language and other skills for communication with persons with disabilities must be part of the school curriculum from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions”.

“All these are provided in the law, but most people are ignorant of it”.

The former Governor of Nassarawa State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stated this when the Management of A K Global Nigeria Limited paid him a courtesy visit recently.

Speaking on the way and manner the media report stories about persons with disabilities, the Senator had this to say, “Persons with disabilities have contributed immensely to nations building, achieving great stride in education, governance, sports, politics to mention a few.

Yet news and stories about person with disabilities are under reported, and when reported are stereotyped.” he said.

“These stereotypes and perceptions do no good to any one, it encourages families with children with disabilities to hide them from the public eye which often times results in abuse, the media is the medium through which such acts of injustice should be exposed and addressed so if they are biased, and then how do we educate the public”.

“The media has a lot to do in addressing such issues, they are the watch dog of the society, they must expose any wrongdoing of the society and ensure that the relevant authority are held liable for such offences, be it family, security operatives or the commission”.

Senator Al-Makura called out the exclusion of person with disabilities in Nigeria, especially by the mainstream media.

The Senator expressed appreciation for the signing of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and explained that the Nigerian government is poised to building an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities through deliberate policy formulation and implementation.

He advised all persons with disabilities to familiarize themselves with the Act and demand for their rights.

Meanwhile Al- makura has described the conceptualizing of the Inclusion Magazine as a policy instrument and exclusive voice for interactions, engagements, social, economic and cultural needs for persons living with disabilities in Nigeria.

Al-Makura commended the management of A. K. Global Concepts Limited for the innovative and iconic idea of launching Inclusion Magazine as a policy instrument, a platform and an exclusive voice for interactions, engagements, social, economic and cultural needs of persons living with disabilities in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer of A. K. Global Concepts Limited, publishers of Inclusion Magazine, Alhaji Abdulrahman Hussaini in his response explained that persons with disabilities are under reported in the media and do not have a strong voice in the media.

He stated that persons with disabilities in Nigeria have contributed tremendously to the nation’s political and economic development as well as in the global space of activities including sports.

“Inclusion Magazine is providing this platform to celebrate this section of the population (persons with disabilities) and to serve as policy document to governments and non-governmental organizations” Alhaji Hussaini said.

“The magazine is a people-driven publication that will also feature critical issues of integration for these persons in all facets of the society including matters on policy reforms and social programmes and schemes as obtained in most parts of the world.

Abdulrahman appreciated Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura who is also the Chairman, Advisory Board of Inclusion Magazine, for his numerous accomplishments over the years especially in improving the plight of persons with disabilities.

He promised that A K Global Concepts Limited will work closely with the senator and other well meaning Nigerians in achieving the mission and vision of the Magazine.