Persons with disabilities request name change
—–as CRC and partners support
Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and Covenant Oluchi Ikedinobi
Civil Rights Concern and Partners stakeholders forum on data update on persons with disability and improved delivery services at King David’s hotel , Awka have agreed with persons with disabilities for a name change to ‘ people with different abilities’. This is in line with the wish of people with disabilities who advocated for a name change as according to them everyone has one disability or the other.
www.odogwublog.com reports that according to the stakeholders, everyone has a challenge and there is no need referring to them as people with disabilities when they are capable differently.
Collaborating with the stakeholders stand to adopt the name change as suggested by the people with disabilities to henceforth be referred to as ‘people with different abilities’, Prof Mercy Anagbogu of Women Action Committee (WAC) pointed out that such deserving name ‘people with different abilities’ will boost their ego and self esteem thus making them to regain their confidence. Prof Anagbogu said the name can be updated at CAC.
Addressing participants at the forum, the Director , Civil Rights Concern, (CRC) Okey Onyeka noted that the program was Evidence and Collaboration for inclusive development (ECID) sponsored by Christian Aid and UKaid.
Onyeka informed that CRC is promoting rights of access in governance and improved realization of human rights and human dignity to enable citizens achieve their human dreams to Development.
He insisted that there is a data gap in planning, hence CRC is advocating for regular updates of data of persons with disability for proper planning. This, he said is key area to address in budget processes.
The Director Civil Rights Concern (CRC) maintained that the project is looking at building data to support decision making for key target groups in Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
He advocated for increased effectiveness of Civil Society and other actors at all levels to address priorities of the key target groups for greater accountability and representation of power holders to prioritize for the target groups.
The project he said is targeted to make Government accountable , adding that the target was to work with Communities, civil society groups , Government institutions and private sectors to develop sustainable data platform that reflects the perspectives and priorities of marginalized groups.
The groups targeted are adolescent boys and girls between age of 13 and 19; people living with disability and poor rural women,19 and above living in hard to reach Communities.
The Communities involved are in four local government areas of Anambra State including Awka North, Ogbaru, Anambra West and Ayamelum.
He said the objectives included but not limited to promote the building and updating of data on people with disabilities, to promote sustainable programming of service for persons with disabilities and to mobilize stakeholders and duty bearers to take up their responsibilities in improving access to services to persons with disabilities and the marginalized groups in a sustainable manner.
Contributing , Dr Dennis Ekemezie, a field Research Fellow thanked Christian Aid Nigeria for partnering Civil Rights Concern in organizing the thoughtful workshop for better knowledge on data collection concerning the people with disabilities rather than depending on some arm chair data. He noted that the situation of these groups during last Edo and Ondo elections were nothing to write home about. He even advocated for targeting the younger generation in planning for an Inclusive government.
Miss Okonkwo Victoria of Ministry of Education and team insisted that Government won’t be talking about Inclusive government without the views of people with disabilities being considered, advocating for employment of sign language teachers for not only schools but homes for Communication to be effective.
She said the Joint Consultative Committee domiciled in the Education ministry is championing how people would learn sign language and provision of adequate infrastructure for people with disabilities in line with SDG goal 4 targeting advocacy in inclusive education.
Mr Chudi Ogbu of Dear Africa, Awka moderated the session, while Mrs Edith Nwachukwu, Director, Planning, Research and Logistics , Ministry of Health, Comrade Ezeokafor Ikechukwu of JONAPWD , Anambra state chapter and Mr Alphonsus Nwoye of to the JPDC Onitsha were among the attendees who contributed during the session, Mrs Nwachukwu praised Governor Willie Obiano for standing by the people with disabilities; while Comrade Ezeokafor confirmed her views by giving instances how Obiano was a pillar for the PWD in Anambra state.
He joined the advocacy of removing disabilities from their name to enable them showcase the latent abilities God has granted them as the name disabilities limit them.
