The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has urged religious and faith-based organisations across Nigeria to make disability inclusion a priority in their humanitarian, social and community development programmes.
Abba Isa made the call on Friday while delivering a goodwill message at the official launch of the “Bold Action for Disability Rights and Inclusive Development in North Central Nigeria” project, organised by the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) in collaboration with CBM and other partners.
The Presidential aide said churches, mosques and other faith-based institutions, with their extensive networks and influence within communities, were strategically positioned to promote the dignity, acceptance and full participation of persons with disabilities in society.
He stressed that persons with disabilities should no longer be viewed merely as recipients of charity or development interventions, but as equal citizens, partners and contributors to national development.
Abba Isa commended JDPCI, CBM and their partners for launching the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at strengthening disability-inclusive systems and expanding access to opportunities and essential services for persons with disabilities in Benue State, the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau State.
According to him, the project’s emphasis on empowering persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in community development and decision-making was particularly significant, noting that inclusive development could only be achieved when persons with disabilities were actively involved in decisions affecting their lives and communities.
He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to disability inclusion, equal opportunities and youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that no citizen was left behind in Nigeria’s development process.
Government Cannot Do It Alone
The Presidential aide said the Federal Government could not achieve its disability inclusion objectives without strong partnerships with civil society organisations, development partners, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), faith-based organisations and other stakeholders.
He disclosed that his office had intensified engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, while also working with disability organisations, civil society groups and development partners to promote disability inclusion across national development programmes.
Abba Isa Seeks Partnership with JDPCI, CBM
Abba Isa also called for a structured partnership between JDPCI, CBM and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities throughout the implementation of the project.
He said President Tinubu had given him a clear mandate and “marching order” to create avenues for incorporating disability perspectives and requirements into national development.
He therefore urged the project organisers to involve his office in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the initiative.
“This will enable us to provide technical advice and guidance, strengthen coordination and ensure that the lessons and achievements of the project are properly documented and reported to the Presidency,” he said.
He further requested that his office be invited to inspect and monitor project activities in Benue State, the FCT and Plateau State, explaining that such engagement would enable government to assess the project’s impact, identify areas requiring additional support and determine successful interventions that could be strengthened and replicated in other parts of the country.
The Presidential aide also advocated capacity-building for policymakers, duty bearers, directors, ministers and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the project to strengthen compliance with disability inclusion requirements.
North Central PWDs Have Enormous Potential
Abba Isa said persons with disabilities in the North Central region possessed talents, ideas and capabilities that could make significant contributions to community and national development if given the right opportunities and support.
He assured JDPCI, CBM, OPDs, community leaders and other stakeholders of the continued collaboration and support of his office within its mandate.
The launch attracted representatives of government institutions, development organisations, disability groups and other stakeholders, including Dr. Adebukola Adebayo of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Executive Director of JDPCI, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Sanni; Dr. Nneka, Chair of the UN Technical Working Group; Damilare Atunwa, representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Mr. Umar Dankoro of CBM International; Adaeze, representing the Federal Ministry of Health; the FCT Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Dr. Bashir Dawodu, Chairman, House Committee on Disability; Madam Betty, JONAPWD Women Leader; and Dr. Barr. Theophilus Odaudu of the Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
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