The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has organized a two-day advocacy training in Imo State aimed at strengthening the capacity of persons with disabilities to demand inclusion within the implementation structures of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The training, held under CCD’s project titled Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND), brought together persons with disabilities from oil-producing communities, government representatives, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and media practitioners. The workshop focused on equipping participants with advocacy skills and promoting disability inclusion within the benefit-sharing frameworks of the PIA.
Speaking during the workshop, CCD’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mrs. Peace Ezekiel, explained that the organisation, established in 2002, has remained committed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through research, documentation, and advocacy. She noted that CCD identified significant gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act regarding the exclusion of persons with disabilities, which prompted the organisation to secure support from the Ford Foundation for the implementation of the EBAND project. According to her, the initiative seeks to mainstream disability inclusion within the PIA framework and ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from development opportunities in host communities.
Also speaking, the Admin and Finance Manager of CCD, Mrs. Florence Austin, who represented the Acting Director and Founding Executive Director of CCD, Hon. David O. Anyaele, said the workshop was designed to enlighten persons with disabilities on the provisions of the PIA and strengthen their advocacy capacity. She stated that the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the implementation structures of the PIA informed CCD’s engagement with stakeholders, including the Host Community Development Trust Fund, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, settlers, and traditional rulers. She described the workshop as a platform for empowerment, learning, and collective action toward inclusive development.
The Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Barr. C.U. Ekwelem, commended CCD and its founding Executive Director for their contributions to the disability community in Imo State. He said the organisation’s advocacy efforts had strengthened disability inclusion and empowerment within the state. According to him, JONAPWD in Imo State now operates from a functional office, has received support from philanthropists, and has witnessed increased government inclusion of persons with disabilities through appointments across local government areas. He also highlighted partnerships that facilitated the distribution of wheelchairs, white canes, and other assistive devices to persons with disabilities.
The first day of the training focused on the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities within the Niger Delta environment, the effects of oil exploration on host communities, disability rights, and an overview of the Petroleum Industry Act. Participants examined the structures of the Host Community Development Trust and discussed existing gaps that exclude persons with disabilities from governance and benefit-sharing processes.
Interactive sessions also provided participants with opportunities to share experiences relating to environmental pollution, communication barriers, exclusion from community structures, and limited access to information. Discussions explored solutions such as media engagement, alliance-building, community participation, and stakeholder engagement to advance disability inclusion.
On the second day, participants received training on advocacy strategies, inclusive governance, stakeholder mapping, leadership development, inclusive budgeting, and needs assessments. Through role-play sessions and practical discussions, participants explored strategies for engaging traditional rulers, community leaders, government institutions, and oil companies to secure representation for persons with disabilities within Host Community Development Trusts, Boards of Trustees, and Advisory Committees.
At the end of the workshop, participants pledged to step down the knowledge gained to other members of the disability community and intensify advocacy efforts to ensure persons with disabilities are included in decision-making and benefit-sharing structures under the Petroleum Industry Act.
The training marked another step toward strengthening disability inclusion and promoting equitable participation of persons with disabilities in development processes across Imo State and the Niger Delta region.
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