Executive Director of Disability Not A Barrier Initiative, Olajide Funsho Benjamin has lamented that despite the various advocacy programmes and campaigns over the years, some Nigerians still hold the belief that disability is infectious and can be passed from one person to another.
Benjamin, while giving an update on efforts by his organization’s mission to promote inclusion and justice for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria and Ekiti State in particular, said the organisation was facing a couple of challenges ranging from traditional beliefs about disabilities, which according to him was worrisome.
“So far we have faced various challenges ranging from traditional beliefs. We still have some villages, some places where they still belief that Albinos are still instruments of rituals so to say. We still have some people that believe that Disability is contagious. We still have this erroneous belief in our people. They still believe persons with disabilities should be object of pity. So it makes our work a little bit harder,” he said.
He also listed funding as one of the major challenges of the organisation, adding that it was becoming increasingly difficult to get funding to run various programs that could impact persons with disabilities positively most especially the youth.
“These days, most of our youth even youths with disabilities. They are filled with the notion of getting rich quickly just to find little job that they can do that will earn them money immediately which is not usually that easy. These are some of the challenges and also to be able to convince them otherwise as always proven to be difficult,” he said.
Benjamin, who is also a Social Development Goal advocate for Goal 10 which entails reducing inequalities, said despite the odds, the organisation has been able to record appreciable outreach to quite a number of PWDs.
“God has been able to help us to achieve a lot for persons with disabilities both women with disabilities, youths with disabilities, children with disabilities, men with disabilities that cut across all the clusters including physically challenged, visually impaired, hearing impaired, people living with albinism, people suffering from leprosy and all other clusters of persons with disabilities across Ekiti State.
“Last year, we had various programs most especially the one we call “Back to school version 2.1 “which is a program for children with disabilities in the special school at Ikere where we sensitize the students on how to take care of themselves and how to cope with life with disabilities of which most of the students about 100 of them appreciated the gestures.
“We gave out a lot of goods to them ranging from books, writing materials, beverages and so many things we provided for them just to assist them. We also run a program that we call “From the Church”, because we realize that there are lots of children with disabilities that were left at home or by their guardians whereby they denied them access to qualitative education.
“We ran those awareness campaigns in several churches across Ekiti State where we sensitize the parents, the guardians of children with disabilities just to be able to encourage them to make these kids go to school. Immediately after the program, we realize that there are a lot of the parents calling on us that Yes, we have kids who are living with disabilities.
Benjamin also expressed excitement at the feedbacks received so far which shows an increment in enrollment of children with disabilities in various schools.
He said digital training and animations were also carried out for youths with disabilities so as to empower them, while noting that various advocacies program have been held, most especially on the domestication of the national disability act in Ekiti State which has been passed and awaiting the assent of the Governor.
He also expressed optimism that the present administration in Ekiti State will initiate better welfare programmes for youths with disabilities
Benjamin also lauded the Governor of Ekiti State. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi for the platform his administration has given for the youths in Ekiti State and most especially for youths with disabilities to have the opportunities to showcase their talents and to be able to participate in the governance of Ekiti State, just as he expressed optimism that more youth friendly policies and programmes will be initiated.
I will also appreciate Dr. Mrs Abimbola Solanke, the SSA to the Governor on SDGs. She has been performing tremendously well and we appreciate her for that and also all the staff of the SDG’s office. We also appreciate Mrs Margaret Fagboyo for her contribution as well. We also appreciate Hon. Biodun Oyeleye, the SSA to the Governor on civil society matters.
“I also appreciate all the SDG’S goal advocates in Ekiti State. They have been doing extremely well. I want to say thank you for your supports.
“Let me also appreciate my community, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and as well as all persons with disabilities across Ekiti State and all the entire staff of “Disability not a barrier initiative” (DINABI) we appreciate you all including the board members and board of trustees of “Disability not a barrier initiative”. We appreciate you. God bless you”, he said.