By Ruth Oginyi
On Wednesday, August 16th, Ejiro Okotie a Gender Inclusion specialist and program facilitator called on the Ebonyi state government to create programs and implement policies that will benefit persons with disabilities, as this would help to increase their productivity and contribute to the economic growth of the state/ country.
Ejiro the GESI specialist was a facilitator in disability inclusion, sensitivity, and awareness training for ministries, CSOs, Gbv taskforce, and other stakeholders in the state.
The 4-day training was organized by Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youths with Disability (HIFWYD) with support from the Disability Right Fund (DRF)
Correspondent reports that Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youths With Disability ( HIFWYD) is implementing an eighteen-month project titled ” Advancing Rights for Women with Disability in Ebonyi State.
Ngozi Ukpai a co-facilitator in the program noted that the society should consider disability barriers and accessibility in government policies and programs at the planning stage. She urged stakeholders to change their perception of persons with disabilities.
According to Ejiro, disability inclusion is a subject, an issue we should be paying attention to as a society if we are to ensure inclusiveness in development. She also noted that it is important because persons with disability make up a reasonable proportion of the population.
“Estimated 15% of the Ebonyi population are persons with disability, so it is not a figure of people we can just ignore or sweep under the carpet because if proper policies, and programs are put in place for this number of people to participate, then they can make meaningful contribution to economic growth either through payment of their taxes, participation in economic activities, they can become employers of labor as well, and most importantly being able to provide a standard of living for themselves and their families.
“Disability inclusion should be a pressing issue for government and other stakeholders including media, CSOs, and so on. She said.
Barr. Theophilus Odaudu, program manager of Disability Right Fund West Africa, in a remark, noted that no one should be left behind in government programs and policies.
He said that women with disabilities are marginalized and said it is important they are fully carried along.
“There should be changes in programs and policies, legal frameworks to include women with disability, to ensure that women with disability are not left behind”.
Earlier the program lead, Oluchi Nwite said the project aims to advance the rights of women with disabilities, strengthen their capacity as rights advocates, and ensure social inclusiveness and sustainability with effective engagements with mainstream gender-based stakeholders.
She urged the state GBV task force team, CSOs, ministries, and MDAs to step down the training in their different organizations and ensure they become sensitive and create an enabling environment for persons with disabilities.
