During the week Joe Biden officially became the 46th President of the United States of America.
Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris!
This is a new era for America—and of course– to the rest of the world. African countries and their respective cultural institutions are now looking forward to a healthier partnership between them and America.
That should rightly be so.
America is an exceptional nation—by plenteous parameters– economy, industry, energy, education, health, and armed security or military. Amidst the roaring rise of China, the world will remain unipolar under America for the remainder of this century. Unlike any other advanced nation, America’s institutions are strong and solid.
Yet, it is a nation of people whose rights, freedom and liberty are enshrined in the nation’s constitution.
In 1990, during President H. Bush’s administration, America became the first nation on earth to comprehensively declare equality for its citizens with disabilities. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the country enshrined into law the promise of equal access, equal opportunity, and equal respect for every American regardless of status or disability.
The United States’ system of government—representative democracy—will continue to be a beacon of light to the world.
To this end, the whole world, particularly in poorer regions with weak institutional and cultural establishments will, in the next four years of Biden Administration, look forward to a stronger partnership, and ways that the policies of America can impact or inspire the institutional and cultural atmosphere in these poorer regions.
Nigerian Disability Community– one of the largest cultural institutions in Africa– can expect a Biden’s Administration—a government that remains doggedly dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities have the same access to the American Dream as every other citizen.
The Nigerian Disability Community can benefit from one who does it better—more effectively and more efficiently.
With inspiration from disabilities-centric policies of the United States under Joe Biden, and through a concrete working partnership between the United States and Nigeria, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with civil organizations, can toughen the protections against disability-based discrimination, increase accessibility in our communities, expand employment opportunities and increase financial independence for people with disabilities in Africa’s most populous country.
Can President Biden do it for Americans with Disabilities and the Nigerian Disability Community?
Joe Biden has the will and fortitude to make big, bold moves, not only for his nation’s 56.7 million people living with disabilities but as well as for the Disabled Community in Nigeria.
For an American President who has undergone tremendous tests of wills— as seen in the loss of his first wife and daughter in 1972 after Biden had just been elected into the United States Senate—and freshest all, the death of the president’s eldest son, Beau Biden who died of brain cancer in 2015, President Joe Biden had been in the trenches and understands the depth of pains that ordinary people experience.
He has been there, and knows what it means to be “in need” and to want support. Biden’s profound empathy—along with a bright wife with a love for literacy and education (Dr. Jill Biden) —will bring extraordinary inspiration and evolvement to Nigerians living with disabilities.
Here are ways to expect the Biden-Harris administration to advance us as people with disabilities in Nigeria.
Open Foreign Policy and Open Borders
Nigerians with disabilities can expect a more open, friendlier American border than the previous administration. The US government under President Biden will provide more access to legitimate individuals with disabilities who have genuine reasons to be in the United States. While there is no intention on the part of members of the Nigerian disability community to settle permanently in the US, we are consoled by the fact that bright and legitimate Nigerians with disabilities can travel to the US to participate in important social-cultural narratives.
Expansion of Educational Opportunities to deserving Nigerians with Disabilities.
The Biden-Harris Administration will increase educational opportunities for several Nigerians with disabilities. America will have a true scholar and academic in the Office of the First Lady of America. Our community can look forward to, for example, Gallaudet educational scholarship that several Deaf Nigerians have availed themselves of.
Expansion of economic opportunities via Foreign Direct Investment
It is expected of the Biden Administration to strengthen economic partnership with Africa’s largest economy by establishing institutions and social initiatives that increase investment inflow. Gallaudet University in Nigeria is a capital project that the US government can passionately pursue to the benefit of Nigerians with disabilities.
Strengthening social international inclusion via transnational cultural exchange and events.
The US government, through the State Department, can triple the number of cultural events in Nigeria. Disabilities-centred initiatives that promote the understanding of certain ‘elements’ of disabilities, as well as decency and tolerance for individuals and children with exceptionalities for which the United States is well-known, should be initiated.
Increase in USAID.
USAID under this present administration is expected to seek to grow more stability through more improved social services, transparent and responsive governance, a market-led economy, humanitarian assistance, as well as development assistance in Nigeria. This potentially will help to ensure long term economic and social recovery in Nigeria and further strengthen the socio-cultural relation between Nigeria and the United States.