Determined to bridge the gap between law and lived reality for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the FCT Original Inhabitants with Disabilities, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, has launched a rights-based training to help PWDs defend themselves against discrimination and abuse.
The training, held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, brought together persons with different disabilities to learn how to use the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, as a tool for self-advocacy and social inclusion.
President of the FCT Original Inhabitants with Disabilities, Mr. Festus Yakubu, said the programme aims to build the confidence and capacity of PWDs to assert their rights in a society where discrimination still persists.
“Nigeria has an estimated 35.1 million persons with disabilities, yet many continue to face exclusion and neglect despite the existence of the Disability Act,” Yakubu said. “This training is about changing that narrative by giving our people the knowledge to stand up for themselves.”
Also speaking, Ambassador Mube Awala, the Disability Desk Officer at the FCT Women Affairs Mandate Secretariat, applauded the organisers and encouraged participants to become ambassadors of positive change within their communities. She reminded them that the Disability Act provides penalties for anyone found guilty of violating the rights of PWDs.
Participants such as Special Educator Mrs. Justina Kenneth and Politician Mr. Usman Madaki described the training as a timely intervention that would strengthen disability advocacy and promote greater inclusion of PWDs in public policies and government initiatives.
Themed “Gender-Sensitive Training and Mentorship Programme for Girls, Women, and Men with Disabilities,” the workshop also highlighted the need for equality and mutual respect in building a society where every citizen—regardless of ability—can thrive with dignity.
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