To mark International Human Rights Day 2023, The Executive Director of Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa (registered as Sage Initiative for Disability and Inclusion) through its advocacy and policy drive, using the media had called on the federal government of Nigeria to prioritise persons with disabilities rights in all its ramifications.

Yinka Olaito (the Executive Director), through two major national Television channels had itemised many of the challenges persons with disabilities(PWDs) face daily while the governments (at various levels) continue to pay lip service to many of the human rights violations and denials that affect PWDs.

For the two national television platforms- TVCNews and Kaftan TV Abuja, which programmes aired at different times of the day, Yinka Olaito began his concern by acknowledging the fact that though there has been a sort of movement forward in the journey of PWDs rights, the road to freedom continues to be very challenging for an average PWD in Nigeria.

Yinka Olaito, Executive director on TVC

According to Yinka Olaito “We can see President Tinubu domiciling African Charter of Human Rights for Persons with disabilities –ACHRPWD in Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian Senate making some reviews to the existing Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Acts 2018, there had not been official actions that justify government is very serious about PWDs rights in many ways”.

Yinka Olaito on Kaftan TV Abuja

With health, job, accessibility and education rights of PWDs in Nigeria, there seem to be no changes to the status quo. PWDs health rights till date are still in a hanging status. Accessing health by PWDs across Nigeria continues to be a task that no one really puts a concern on. Most hospitals are not accessible. Many medical personnel cannot attend to the health needs of PWDs due to communications issues. Also the National Health Insurance Scheme which could have been a succour does not provide much for PWDs.

The job rights of PWDs is still in Limbo.5% of job allocation to PWDs is still a mirage. Celebrating and organizing events and fun fare will not achieve much. Building and other infrastructural accessibility demands for PWDs are still not in 15% across the nation. Our airports are still not configured to enable disability accessibility infrastructure and yet we continue to move on as this is not a priority.

To access our executive director’s  demands for PWDs rights on 2023 International Human Rights day, on TVC, check here  and on Kaftan TV Abuja, check  here.

N.B. This article should have been published on December 11, 2023