Al-Makura, champion of PLWDs
When Umaru Tanko Al-makura became Governor of Nasarawa State in 2011, among the debilitating problems he met on ground included decayed infrastructure; no traffic light or a single asphalt graded road in the capital city, Lafia; no rural roads to help convey farm yields to markets; and poor Basic Health Services required by indigent rural […]
When Umaru Tanko Al-makura became Governor of Nasarawa State in 2011, among the debilitating problems he met on ground included decayed infrastructure; no traffic light or a single asphalt graded road in the capital city, Lafia; no rural roads to help convey farm yields to markets; and poor Basic Health Services required by indigent rural dwellers. Also, in 2011, major markets across Nasarawa State were few and in disrepair and public schools also suffered from infrastructural dilapidation. It was a time of meagre resources and half -hearted commitment to the provision of basic social amenities to Nasarawa State’s majority of poor but able-bodied citizens.
People living with disabilities, who had no political clout, strong voice or visible representation were therefore relegated to the very bottom of government’s agenda. When Umaru Tanko Al-makura became Governor, was were incessant communal clashes and the rise of ethnic militia such as Ombatse, coupled with dwindling of resources accruing to Nasarawa State owing to falling crude oil prices and low internally generated revenue.
The Governor therefore set out to establish in Nasarawa State a new system of governance which will end the politics of waste, frivolity and corruption which had held sway for many years. He instituted instead a new kind of leadership anchored on accountability, transparency and the fear of God. This rekindled hope for people living with disabilities (PLWDs) who at that time, were completely excluded from the scheme of things in Nasarawa State.
From the very beginning, Governor Al-makura felt a sense of duty to the poor and vulnerable in Nasarawa State, particularly people with disabilities. He decided that inclusive governance will be his administration’s guiding principle and moral light. He adopted the principle of inclusivity in order to fully rehabilitate, render relief and offer direct support to those who are internally displaced, women and children, the old and Rural Indigent Group (RIG), and to people who were living with disabilities!
His policies focused on sustainable development such as establishing 64 TA’AL Model Primary Schools to cater for the education of children from poor families. he also established comprehensive and integrated special schools for persons living with disabilities in the state’s three senatorial districts. The Governor provided automatic employment to all persons living with disability and granted free education from primary to tertiary level to performs living with any form of disability. He also took it upon himself to pay the school fees and educational levies for ALL disabled students of Nasarawa State origin who were in secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the National Policy on Education defines Special Education as “the education of children and adults who have learning difficulties because of different kinds of disabilities like blindness, partial sightedness, deafness, hardness of hearing, mental retardation, social maladjustment and limb deformity or malformation due to circumstances of birth, inheritance, social position, mental and physical health patterns, or accident in later life.”
Nasarawa is one of the few states in Nigeria that domesticated the National Policy on Inclusive Education. The aim is that students experience inclusive education when they can access and fully participate in learning, alongside their similar-aged peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs. To make teaching and learning easy for both the teachers and the disabled students, the comprehensive Special School in Lafia is equipped with assistive technologies like Smart boards, Braille machines and physiotherapy equipment. the students do not pay any school fees and government provides them with free lunch, free uniforms and transportation.
Nasarawa is also the only state in Nigeria that has developed the Adapted Curriculum for Special Needs students. This curriculum is embedded in all aspects of school life and is supported by culture, policies and every day practices. In addition, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura sent a bill to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to establish the Disability Rights Commission. Al-makura is the only sitting governor in Nigeria’s history who led a peaceful demonstration to the National Assembly to demand for the enactment of a Disabilities Law and to establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Umaru Tanko Al-makura epitomizes genuine compassion for those afflicted by any kind of disability. A few years back, he celebrated his birthday with lepers in Lafia’s Leprosy Colony. Once he was driving in Lafia when he noticed a boy crawling on his stomach. he stopped and adopted the crippled boy, who is now his son and is going to school. This impulse comes to Governor Al-makura all the times, as he once stopped could and talked to a pint-sized woman who is afflicted by a rare growth condition and was carried around in a wheelbarrow. The woman from Tilden Fulani in Bauchi State had come to Lafia town to beg. Al-makura asked Fatima what she desired the most in life and she said a car. he instantly gave her one! Governor Al-makura has initiated a state policy which supports all the unions representing different categories of persons with disability on a monthly allowance.
During his recent stay in Ekiti as Chairman of Ekiti APC Governorship Primaries, Governor Al-makura stumbled on disabled athletes who were training at the Ado-Ekiti stadium. He invited all 16 of them to his hotel room where he encouraged them with words of wisdom. afterwards he gave them a donation of N2m and charged them to remain steadfast in representing Ekiti and Nigeria.
While presenting the 2016 Budget, Governor Al-makura said, “The overriding objective of development is to eradicate poverty, ensure the wellbeing of our people and above all promote social integration. If these objectives are to be achieved we must work towards creating an inclusive society, “a society for all,” stable, safe, just and tolerant, a society which respects diversity, equal opportunity and participation of all people, including the disadvantaged, vulnerable groups and PLWD!”
Al-makura is the man intent on making life more meaningful for People Living with Disabilities. It was therefore fitting that he was conferred yesterday with the award of Most Outstanding Governor for Bringing Hope to People Living with Disabilities. Congratulations, champion of PLWDs!
Yakubu Lamai is Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs & Media Strategy to the Governor of Nasarawa State.