JONAPWD trains 35 on championing disability inclusion

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) has built the capacity of 35 persons as “disability inclusion champions” in Edo state. Daily Trust reports that the two-day capacity building supported by the Ford Foundation brought together young advocates, civil society organisations, media and representatives of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) from across […]

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) has built the capacity of 35 persons as “disability inclusion champions” in Edo state.

Daily Trust reports that the two-day capacity building supported by the Ford Foundation brought together young advocates, civil society organisations, media and representatives of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) from across the state.

Winnie Ishaku, Programme Officer of JONAPWD, said the trainees would spearhead advocacy for inclusive education, accessible healthcare, and enforcement of disability rights.

She said the training was designed to equip participants with the skills to mainstream both disability and gender inclusion in policy engagement.

“When you are designing your programme, you have to look at everything — accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and quality”.

According to her, “at the the end of the programme, we want our participants to engage policymakers in education, health, and other sectors to implement the rights of persons with disabilities.

She stressed the need for Edo to shift from special schools to a globally accepted model of inclusive education, where children with and without disabilities learn in the same classrooms.

“The project also aims to model a fully accessible primary healthcare centre, equipped with ramps, sign language interpreters, and assistive devices.

This, she said, to demonstrate that “universal design is possible” and push the government to replicate it across all local governments.

On her part, Ann Ojugu, Edo state Chairperson of JONAPWD, said training would trigger “a great change” in the state.

“Our governor has set up the Disability Commission. With this training, we will engage the commission, ministries, and local governments to ensure that exclusion becomes a thing of the past.”

Also speaking, a participant, Ibrahim Momoh, described the programme as an opportunity to review the implementation of the Edo Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Law, 2022.