The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has successfully organized a two-day advocacy training in Anambra State under its project titled Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND).
The workshop brought together persons with disabilities from oil-producing communities, government representatives, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and members of the media to strengthen advocacy skills and promote the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the benefit structures of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Speaking during the training, the Senior Programme Officer of CCD, Florence Attah, provided an overview of the organisation, highlighting its vision, mission, and core values. She urged participants to take the training seriously and return to their communities to actively engage stakeholders in advocating for the inclusion of PWDs within the PIA benefit framework. According to her, previous engagements in other states had already begun yielding positive outcomes.
In his opening remarks, the Acting Director of CCD, Godwin Unumeri, welcomed participants and commended their dedication towards promoting equity, justice, and inclusive development in the Niger Delta region. He noted that despite the region’s enormous contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil resources, persons with disabilities continue to face exclusion from governance structures and benefit-sharing arrangements established under the PIA.
Unumeri explained that the training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and advocacy skills needed to demand inclusion in Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), Boards of Trustees, and other community decision-making platforms. He stressed that inclusion remains a fundamental human right rather than an act of charity.
Representing the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Chidera Okafor commended CCD for what he described as a timely intervention and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Also speaking, the Chairman of JONAPWD Anambra State Chapter, Ugochukwu Okeke, appreciated CCD for sustaining advocacy engagements in the state. He encouraged participants from oil-producing communities to become more actively involved in community affairs and advocacy efforts.
Activities on the first day focused on understanding the vulnerabilities faced by persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta environment, the impact of oil exploration on host communities, disability rights, and an overview of the Petroleum Industry Act. Participants were introduced to the structures of the Host Community Development Trusts and the gaps that currently exclude PWDs from governance and benefit-sharing processes.
Discussions during the sessions emphasized the importance of understanding laws, resisting discrimination, participating in community governance, and strategically using advocacy to demand inclusion. Participants also shared experiences relating to environmental pollution, exclusion from community structures, poor access to information, and communication barriers confronting persons with disabilities.
The second day of the workshop centered on advocacy strategies, inclusive governance, and practical entry points for inclusion within PIA structures. Participants received training on advocacy planning, stakeholder mapping, leadership development, inclusive budgeting, needs assessments, and strategies for ensuring that disability concerns are reflected in community development plans and budgets.
Through role-play sessions and practical discussions, participants explored ways of engaging traditional rulers, community leaders, government institutions, and oil companies to secure representation for persons with disabilities in Host Community Development Trusts, Boards of Trustees, and Advisory Committees. Facilitators emphasized persistence, collective action, and evidence-based advocacy as critical tools for achieving inclusion.
At the end of the training, participants expressed renewed confidence and commitment to advancing disability inclusion within their communities. They pledged to step down the knowledge gained to other members of the disability community, strengthen collaboration through coordinated advocacy networks, and actively engage stakeholders to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in decision-making and benefit-sharing structures under the Petroleum Industry Act.
The workshop marked another significant step towards building an informed, empowered, and united disability community in Anambra State and across the Niger Delta region, capable of driving inclusive development and ensuring that no one is left behind.
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