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Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, has called for strategic policy engagement with various governments at all levels toward the full participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in civic and political processes.
This call was made by the Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry while giving her opening remarks at a 3-Day PWD Civic and Political Organizing Lab.
She said the civic and political participation of persons with disabilities has generally gone beyond the routine electoral process of registering for elections, voting, and contesting for elections.
She said the shifts bounced on the inclusivity of persons with disabilities at administrative offices as executives at the local, state and national levels while also including them in political parties’ executives and policy formulation processes.
She also charges IPAC leaders present to open conversations both at local, state and federal levels about PWDs inclusivity in their party structures.
PWD Civic and Political Organizing Lab was organized by the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) under their project tagged “Participate Today” with support from National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The event which took place at the Eleventh House Hotel, Ado-Ekiti between 25th-27th, January 2022 was attended by 30 persons with disabilities and their aides as well as IPAC members in Ekiti state.
The organizing lab which seeks to equip PWDs with necessary tools for running effective political and civic campaigns as well as build a community/network for political solidarity and advocacy while also facilitating the implementation of the Disability Act at the National and sub-national levels.
The chairman of IPAC in Ekiti state, Hon Ifedayo Iyaniwura while speaking at the event urged PWDs to seize the opportunity of the open-door policy embraced by most of its members to join any political party of their choice as he had no doubt about their ability to effect the desired change the country require.
During a panel session that has all the IPAC leaders present as panelist and Mr Bem Aga, Program Manager at National Democratic Institute as the moderator, the panelist charged the community of persons with disabilities to sensitize their members on the need and benefit of joining political parties and be actively involved.
The PWDs present also encouraged the Party leaders to provide a conducive and accessible environment for PWDs so as to avoid apathy. They also advocated for a level playing ground for persons with disabilities with all necessary support. Other sessions include Political Party organizing, Stakeholder power mapping and Communication.
The event also witnessed sessions facilitated by Grace Jerry, Dr Azeezat Yishawu, Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Mr. Wilson Manji, Deputy Project Coordinator at European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) who took the participants Voter, Civic and Political Education (VoCiPE) and Messaging and Content Creation.
The JONAPWD General Secretary, Olajide Funso who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the chairman appreciated IFA and NED for considering Ekiti worthy of the project. He emphasized the timeliness and usefulness of the Participate Today project to the community of persons with disabilities in Ekiti state. The chairman, Mr Owolabi Kayode also promised IFA and NED that the community shall take ownership of the project while also ensuring the sustainability of the project.