PWDs take accessibility campaign to New Life Church, demand construction of ramps, others
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, has taken an accessibility campaign to the New Life Church in a bid to promote inclusivity and equal access for persons with disabilities.
Led by the association’s Vice Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Igwegbe, the team stormed the church’s premises in Awka, Anambra State capital, during Sunday’s service to advocate for the construction of ramps, accessible restrooms, and other facilities that would enable persons with disabilities to worship comfortably.
odogwublog.com reports that the exercise is part of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption campaign to promote accessibility and inclusivity in the society. The program is supported by the European Union and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) in Nigeria.
Addressing the congregation, Igwegbe said the church has a moral obligation to provide an inclusive environment for all its members, including those with disabilities.
“We are not asking for favors, but for our rights as citizens to be respected. Church is not made for a particular set of people and nobody knows tomorrow. Anybody can develop one disability or the other which is the reason churches must be made accessible to accommodate everyone,” he said.
Lending her voice, JONAPWD Anambra Public Relation Officer, Chidimma Ajemba, regretted that the majority of the churches are built with high stairs, making it extremely impossible to access the church buildings.
According to her, “Our members are desirous of worshipping with you every Sunday but church buildings are not accessible. Some of us don’t go to church because they don’t like relying on being carried by hefty men into church buildings.
“We no longer want our members to stay at home and watch church programs on Facebook and other social media platforms. We are tired of being absent in the house of God. We want to join, contribute our quota to God’s service and be partakers of His blessings.”
She urged the church management to build a ramp in one of the entrances to the church building to facilitate free movement of PWDs using either crutches or wheelchairs.
Ncheta Nwanokwara, Chairman Association of Anambra State Women with Disabilities (AASWOWD) said making worship centres and other public buildings accessible is one of the key provisions of the Disability Rights Law of the state.
She, as well, urged the church to ensure the construction ramps to aid movements. She also charged worshippers to ensure their town halls, hotels, offices, shops and social centres are disability friendly as provided by the law.
On his own, Vincent Onwubugha, JONAPWD Admin Officer, encouraged the worshippers to cascade the information to friends and families to ensure that the environment is accessible and accommodating for the disabled community.
Responding on behalf of the church, Elder Sam Nwanya, a senior elder and President Born Again Christian Association of Nigeria, Awka branch, commended the team for their efforts and expressed willingness to work with them to address the accessibility concerns.
“We recognize the importance of inclusivity and are committed to making our church a welcoming space for all,” he said.
