By Ngozi Nwankwo
In an elaborate meeting of stakeholders/Partners on disabilities, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Chief Ayuba Gufwan has acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Development Partners towards the progress of the Commission and welfare of Persons with Disabilities since the Commission’s inception.
Speaking at the meeting, the ES took time to appreciate the various Development Partners for the numerous supports accorded the Commission over the last four years.
“One of our goals at the Commission is to maintain the cordial relationship we have with our Development Partners who have supported the course of Persons with Disabilities in many respects” he underscored.
According to him, the collaboration among the disability champions has yielded impressive records and needs to be taken further.
He also added that the challenges in the disability community are huge and should be addressed with consistent efforts by all stakeholders.
“And with all hands on deck, and like Oliver Twist, the Commission will continue to ask for more support in order to improve the lives of Persons with Disabilities” he stated.
In a quick succession, the Country Director, Sightsavers Nigeeia, Joy Shuaibu, congratulated the Executive Secretary on his appointment and seized the occasion to reel out some of the interventions by the organization since its creation.
Shuaibu highlighted the area to include inclusive Education, access to work, and healthcare facilities.
She mentioned the Digital bridge program organized recently in Kano to educate women with disabilities which has empowered the feminine gender in the community.
According to her, Sightsavers Nigeeia has been in Nigeria for about 71 years doing humanitarian works in the country and is always ready to support programmes on disability.
The country Director hinted on the organization’s contributions in facilitating the production of ‘Accessibility Regulations, Development of a 5- year strategic plan’ for the Commission .
In the same vein, the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) led by Innocent Abu Onyemaechi added that their Organization went further to provide funds for the publishing of the “Standard Operating Procedures on inclusion and access of Persons with Disabilities to pre- tertiary education and other programmes’
The partnership meeting also had the Disability Rights Fund in attendance where the Program Manager West Africa, Theophilus Odaodu added his voice to the discourse.
He informed that the Disability Right Funds has provided funds for humanitarian purposes especially for Persons With Disabilities.
Nevertheless, the Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) representative, Mr. Anagboso Obinna in his remarks, mentioned the translation of the Disability Act into 3 major Nigerian languages (Hausa, Igbo an Yoruba) as part of their contributions.
Furthermore, the World Bank was also represented by Cindy Ijeoma Ikeaka who equally reiterated their continued support to the Commission in terms of capacity building.
TAF Africa founder and CEO, Dr Jake Ekpelle seized the platform to inform the meeting of the need to motivate young Persons With Disabilities to engage in grassroot politics and to contest the local government polls so as to make meaningful impacts in the community.
In a similar pedestal, the Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, Mr. Tosin Adeyanju extended a hand of friendship to the Commission and promised that his office will offer interventions that will help the welfare of Persons with Disabilities across the country.