Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Government has been urged to domesticate the national disability law dedicated to safeguarding and upholding the rights of its citizens with disabilities.
This campaign was raised during a four-day disability inclusion awareness and sensitivity training for stakehakeholders in Ebonyi State.
The event, which was held from Wednesday to Saturday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, was organised by Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth With Disabilities (HIFWYD), a Nongovernmental Organization with support from Disability Right Fund on the project “Advancing Rights of Women in Ebonyi State” (ARWE).
Stakeholders at the event comprised of MDAs, CSO’s Gbv taskforce and the media.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager of Disability Right Fund West Africa , Mr. Theophilus Odaudu, stated that the programme was aimed at enhancing knowledge among participants present on the importance of disability inclusion and the steps that can be taken to ensure the full integration of persons with disabilities in the State.
Odaudu stated: “by equipping participants with this knowledge, it is expected that they will incorporate disability-inclusive practices into their work, ultimately benefiting individuals with disabilities for efficiency and more productivity”
He maintained that the common misconception, that individual with disabilities are unable to deliver effectively, should be disregarded, as with reasonable accommodation and support, they function efficiently as anyone else.
“It is just to make the necessary modification that enables people to function irrespective of their disabilities” he added.
Odaudu therefore called on the government of Ebonyi State to domesticate the national disability law dedicated to safeguarding and upholding the rights of its citizens with disabilities.
He observed that in recognition that individuals with disabilities are also valuable members of society, it is of utmost importance that their rights and well-being are protected through comprehensive and inclusive legislation.
He further emphasized that in enacting such a law, the government would be fulfilling its duty to ensure that every citizen, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute to the advancement of Ebonyi State.
In a presentation, one of the programme facilitators , a gender and social Inclusion specialist, Miss Ejiro Okotie stated that the programme was aimed at ensuring that, the rights of women with disabilities are protected in Ebonyi State.
She emphasised the need for all stakeholders at both public and private sectors to rise and support persons with disabilities in the society.
Okotie advised particiapants to step down the knowledge in their various areas mainly to enlighten other persons who were not part of the exercise so that the persons with disabilities could have equal opportunities with others.
“With this training stakeholders will go back to their ministries and become ambassador,” she assured.
Contributing, one of the Organization’s consultants, Ngozi Ukpai Okoro, tasked Participants to desist from derogatory terms used in addressing people with disabilities: terms such as ‘deaf and dumb’, ‘paralysed’ should not be used to described one with hearing disability or physical disability, among others.
Participants commended the organizers of the programme and appealed that they should also not relent in training other persons, especially persons with disability to ensure healthy relationship in the society.