By Philomina Attah/ EricJames Ochigbo
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunity, Mr Mohammed Isa has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to disability inclusion, equal opportunity and youth empowerment in the country.
Isa spoke at the inauguration of the ‘Bold Action for Advancing Disability Right and Inclusive Development Project’ for selected states in the North Central in Abuja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-year project is designed and implemented by the Justice Department and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) an agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in partnership with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International.
Isah said that the project represents a bold step toward promoting the rights, dignity, participation and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Benue, Plateau and the FCT.
According to him, there are enormous human potential in the North-Central and persons with disabilities in these areas have talents, ideas and capacity to contribute to nation-building.
He said that the project focuses on strengthening disability-inclusive systems, improving access to opportunities and services, and supporting the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in community development and decision-making is particularly commendable.
“For us, disability inclusion must go beyond seeing persons with disabilities merely as beneficiaries of government and development interventions. They must be recognised as equal citizens, partners and contributors to national development.
“We must, therefore, continue to remove the physical, institutional, attitudinal, communication and economic barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in society.
“Let me reaffirm the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to disability inclusion, equal opportunities and youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The President believes that Nigeria’s development must be inclusive and that no citizen should be left behind.
“Young persons with disabilities must therefore, have access to education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, employment, technology, political participation and leadership opportunities; disability must never become a barrier to opportunity,” he said.
Isa assured the JDPCI and CBM of government support and interventions where necessary for a successful implementation and replication of the project in other areas.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Deborah Odoh commended JDPCI and CBM for the initiative.
Represented by a Deputy Director, Dr Brenda Max-Nduaguibe, Odoh said that the initiative reinforces the principle that says no Nigerian should be left behind.
She said that disability inclusion must therefore, be viewed, not simply as a welfare concern, but as an integral part of development planning.
“This alliance closely with the mandates of the Federal ministry of Budgets and Economic Planning, effective development planning must be inclusive, evidence-based and responsive to the realities of our diverse population.
“Our work on social protection reflects these commitments to reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience and ensuring that disadvantage Nigerians benefit from development.
“Equally, gender responsiveness and social inclusion must remain embedded in our policies and programmes, recognising that different groups face different barriers.
“I, therefore, encourage all stakeholders to document what works, generate credible evidence, and share the lessons widely,” she said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Chief Ayuba Gufwan, said that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Act (2018) is a manifestation of government’s commitment to inclusive society.
He said that 30 states of the federation including Benue, Plateau and the FCT had domesticated the disability Act.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the commission, Dr Adebayo Adebukola, Gufwan said that efforts were moving to ensure full implementation of the law.
“So, efforts are obviously ongoing across different sectors, education, health, social protection, public infrastructure to ensure that the law is given full implementation and impact on the lives of persons with disabilities.
“Of course, we are not where we want to be. It’s a journey and what we have left where we used to be and of course, with projects like this, we can only do better.
“So, we look forward to the full implementation of this project and we will give all the support that you may require to achieve all the objectives of this project,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu