The President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abdullahi Alli Usman, has called for sustained advocacy and stronger inclusion of persons with disabilities in all sectors of national life.
Usman made the call during the commissioning of ramps and accessible toilet facilities donated to the Health Services unit of University of Ibadan.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt a human rights-based approach to disability issues, noting that equality, dignity and access to opportunities must be guaranteed for all citizens regardless of physical condition.
“Our responsibility is to advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of daily life in Nigeria. What we want is a Nigeria where persons with disabilities and those without disabilities enjoy equal fundamental human rights,” he said.
Usman also disclosed that provisions under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with stakeholders included plans to provide assistive devices to support persons with disabilities.
“Beyond infrastructure, there are plans to provide assistive devices that will further support persons with disabilities. We appreciate all those involved in making this possible,” he added.
According to him, the newly constructed ramps were designed to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and persons with mobility challenges, describing the intervention as a significant step toward inclusive healthcare delivery.
“Before now, persons with disabilities often had to be physically assisted into the facility. For instance, a pregnant woman using a wheelchair would need to be carried before accessing care.
“With the ramp, such individuals can now move independently with their wheelchairs to access healthcare services, including consultations and maternity care,” Usman stated.
He described the development as a major improvement in dignity, accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
In her remarks, the Director of Health Services at the University of Ibadan, Aderonke Ajav, said the institution had continued to benefit from interventions aimed at improving accessibility and inclusive healthcare services.
She noted that the university remained committed to initiatives that promote inclusion and improve service delivery for all users of its health facilities.
“At a point, we were encouraged to present projects that could benefit the institution, especially those that would ensure accessibility and support. We are grateful that when this opportunity came, our institution was considered,” she said.
Ajav explained that the intervention led to the construction of access ramps and accessible toilet facilities, both of which had now been completed.
“These facilities will significantly improve mobility and access within the health centre, especially for persons with disabilities. We are very grateful for this intervention,” she added.
She also appreciated the support received under the Memorandum of Understanding, noting that a signboard had been installed to acknowledge the sponsoring commission.
The JONAPWD president also commissioned a project titled, “Strengthening Accountability Frameworks on the Post-Moratorium Cycle of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act (2018),” at the Federal College of Education (Special) (SPED)
The commissioning was carried out alongside Aikomo D.O, Dagbo S.S, Bolaji Y.O and students of the institution.
The intervention forms part of ongoing efforts by disability rights advocates and stakeholders to strengthen accessibility, accountability and inclusion for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
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