Making a Case for PWDs in Leadership
Olawale Ajimotokan and Udora Orizu write that in making a case for the future of persons with disabilities, the Senate president and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation are championing the cause
In celebration of international day of persons with disabilities ( IDPD), the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, have advocated for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in leadership and governance.
Lawan who spoke during the occasion of the celebration in Abuja stressed that people with disabilities were important section of the nation and should not be overlooked. Lawan, who was represented by Chairman Committee on Women Affairs, Betty Apiafi, said disabled people have sound minds and abilities and therefore must be given all the support they deserve.
"The International day for disabled people is targeted at promoting the participation of persons with disabilities in leadership. We are reminded today to pay attention to an important section of our nation. The disabled people in Nigeria are indeed very capable with tremendous abilities and should not be overlooked. Disabled people have sound minds and abilities and therefore must be given all the support they deserve,” he said.
In similar vein, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in his goodwill message lamented that PWDs always face physical social economic barriers that exclude them from participating fully as equal members of the society.
The SGF, stated through his representative, the Permanent Secretary Office of the Government of the Federation, Dr Amina Shamaki, that this year day of PWDs will provide an opportunity to further raise awareness for all stakeholders and will also strengthen the global efforts to remove all types of barriers and realise full and equal participation of PWDs.
He said, "The theme of the this year’s celebration tagged ‘ promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and the leadership, taking action on 2030 development agenda’ could not have come at a better time looking at government’s drive to have an all inclusive system where everyone is a stakeholder in the business of governance. The passage of people living with disabilities act was to show commitment of the government to that effect."
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, while delivering her keynote address, called on stakeholders to promote the participation of persons with disabilities, leveraging on the goals of the 2030 development agenda.
The minister, who also inaugurated a 12 man- committee for the Nigeria People Disability Parliament, further said that as part of efforts to alleviate and reduce the sufferings among persons with disabilities, the federal government through her ministry, have been supporting PWDs on annual basis.
Some of the supports according to her include the provision of wheelchairs, tricycles, braille machines, guide canes, crutches, and grinding machines.
The representative of Disability Parliament, Rasak Adekoya, in his goodwill message commended the federal government for inaugurating Nigeria People Disability Parliament.
He said that the politics, practices and processes of government will become more inclusive when it includes issues around disabilities, adding that issues of PWDs with a collective impact results can be achieved.