From Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD) has began a two-day workshop in Sokoto State to deepen discussion around discrimination against their persons.
The two day workshop, which is targeted at a policy dialogue on strengthening accountability frameworks on the Post-Moratorium cycle of the discrimination against persons with disabilty (prohibition) Act in Nigeria, has “”Disability Inclusion: Strengthening Accountability and Impact in Nigeria”, as its theme.
Speaking in his welcome remarks, the Sokoto State chairman of JONAPWD, Muazu Habibu, thanked the Sokoto State government for domesticating the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilty law since 2021.
Musazu however urged the state government to ensure to its implementation to the letter, making specific reference to the 5 per cent employment opportunity for PWD as captured in the law.
On his part, Muhammed Usman, the Zonal Coordinator of Joint National Association of People with Disabilties, urged all and sundry to see ability in disabilty and treat them with dignity and respect.
While appreciating Sokoto State government for its continued assistance to PWD, JONAPWD National President, Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, said they should be giving opportunities to contribute their own quota to national development.
Abdullahi appealed for the creation of more friendly environment that could bring out their potential.
Making presentation on “”Disability Inclusion: Strengthening Accountability and Impact in Nigeria”, the Legal/Programme Officer of JONAPWD, Winnie Ishaku, admonished all and sundry to treat people with disabilty with utmost respect.
Ishaku, who pointed out that Nigeria has very beautiful laws and policies, however lamented that implantation has always renamed the greatest challenge.
She therefore appealed for adequate inclusion of PWD, saying if empowered, they would not only be self-reliant but also contribute positively to national development.
On their parts, some of the PWD participants at the workshop expressed concerns over how they are being mocked in the society, saying some sees nothing good in them.
PWD in Sokoto at the 2-day workshop also appealed to Sokoto state government to assist them on the basis of empathy and not sympathy. They also urged the state government to strickly monitor the disbursement of the N10,000 monthly stipend to their members.
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