The Albino Foundation Public Notice
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Dr. James Lalu has assured women with disabilities in Nigeria of better inclusion in all government empowerment program and interventions.
The ES gave the assurance during Women with Disabilities National Conference in Abuja. The conference is part of sixteen days activism activities to raise awareness on sexual base violence against women.
Dr. Lalu said “The topic for today’s event is Economic Empowerment, A Catalyst for Eradicated Gender Based Violence against Women with Disabilities. The ES added that for the nation to achieve the goal of empowering women with disabilities there is need for proper budgetary allocation.
On the role and duties of NCPWD in empowering women with disabilities, the ES said “We in NCPWD remain committed to ensuring that women with disabilities get the highest percentage when it comes to our empowerment program at all levels.
“Just recently, we have kick started various empowerment programs. More are coming in the year 2024. my wish is that by next year, with proper budgetary allocation, every person with disability in Nigeria will be touched in one way or the order.
“As we continue to advocate for 35 percent for women generally, r women with disabilities are expected receive 50 percent. We must ensure that all our programs and projects carry women with disabilities on a 50/50 basis.
“I want to encourage you to get educared. Education is very, very important. We will remain committed to providing scholarship to students with disabilities in Nigeria. As we have started this year, with proper budgetary allocation, our commitment is to expand this number of beneficiaries and amount of scholarship awarded.”
Te ES said that the moratorium period granted by the disability act will end on the 16th of January 2024. “The Commission is ready and willing to enforce all aspect of the law” Dr. Lalu said
He warned that public buildings consist of all buildings that have 10 visitor or more in a day. So all public and private sectors must obey and comply with the act.
In her presentation, Patience Ogolo Dickson, Head, Women and Gender Department, NCPWD, spoke on the reasons behind organizing the event. She said “as the world is commemorating 16 days activism with the theme invests To Prevent Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls.
“A take home message will be; women with disabilities should not be left behind. The whole world is celebrating 16 days activism against gender based violence against women and girls. Therefore, women and girls with disabilities must also be inclusive. We are here to bring out the unique, specific issues that have to do with us as women with disabilities. We are advocating in order that everyone will be aware that women with disabilities should not to be left behind.
“Access is one of the very key issue; we need access to infrastructure, access to health facilities. Communication barrier is a big issue, especially for our deaf sisters, and brothers as well. And then we also have issues with gender based violence, spousal violence, emotional violence, bully, and all the types. And then we also have issues around sexual reproductive health and rights. So these are issues that are peculiar to women.
“But for women with disability, considering the barriers that they face because of their disability, we needed to also highlight that as well. “
Bashir Ayinla Daodu , Chairman, House Committee on Disability assured PWDs of proper representation. He stressed that the NCPWD has one of the lowest budgetary allocation of cater for the over 35 million Nigerians with disabilities. He therefore, promised a change in the subsequent budgets.
He said “The law is about rights, primarily. And we are very glad that we have it now, because we never had that before. My message to persons with disability; this is a different time. You are not alone. Your government is with you, your governments will stand with you, and stand up for you to make sure that your lives are better. Because the law has mandated governments and the community to do better .
“My message for the public at large is that when we are talking about inclusion for persons with disability, we’re not talking about charity or favor. Now is about rights. More importantly, when we include everyone in the society – the society is better off. “
