The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has successfully organised a two-day capacity-building workshop in Akwa Ibom State under its project titled Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities, aimed at strengthening advocacy skills and promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the benefit structures of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The workshop brought together persons with disabilities from oil-producing communities, government representatives, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and members of the media to deepen their understanding of the PIA framework and enhance their capacity to advocate for equitable participation in decision-making processes affecting their communities.
Welcoming participants to the training, the Acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, emphasised the importance of the workshop in promoting equity and inclusive development in the Niger Delta. He noted that despite the region’s significant contribution to national development, persons with disabilities are often excluded from decision-making processes, particularly within structures established under the PIA. He encouraged participants to take advantage of the training to strengthen their voices and advocate effectively for their rights.
Also speaking, the Founding Executive Director of CCD and Chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, Hon. David O. Anyaele, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to equipping persons with disabilities with the knowledge and tools required to advocate for their inclusion in PIA benefit structures. He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, ask questions, and apply the knowledge gained to drive positive change in their communities. He further assured participants of the organisation’s readiness to provide technical support whenever necessary.
The Personal Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Disability Matters, Mr. Ubong Ikpe, commended CCD for its sustained efforts in promoting inclusion and encouraged participants to make the most of the training opportunity. He also reiterated the state government’s willingness to support initiatives that advance the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.
During the first day of the workshop, participants focused on building a strong foundation in advocacy by exploring the concept, purpose, and principles of advocacy, as well as the stages and strategies required to plan effective advocacy actions. Discussions highlighted the need for persons with disabilities to transition from passive observers to active decision-makers within the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) structures.
Through practical role-play sessions and shared experiences, participants learned how to engage community leaders, build alliances, and present their demands clearly and strategically. Key issues discussed included barriers to inclusion, the importance of consistent follow-up in advocacy, and the need to challenge negative societal perceptions about persons with disabilities.
On the second day, participants deepened their understanding of the Niger Delta context, the provisions of the PIA, and the structures through which host communities benefit. Sessions also examined how environmental and socio-economic challenges disproportionately affect persons with disabilities and why their inclusion in decision-making structures is essential for equitable development.
Participants actively contributed throughout the workshop, sharing experiences and identifying practical strategies to advance their advocacy efforts. They emphasised the importance of conducting needs assessments, gathering reliable data, and developing clear advocacy goals, noting that effective advocacy requires knowledge, preparation, collaboration, and persistence.
At the end of the workshop, participants reported encouraging outcomes from previous trainings on the PIA, revealing that some members of the disability community are already being included in benefit structures established under the Act. They expressed renewed confidence and a strong commitment to advocating for their inclusion in decision-making processes.
The workshop represents a significant step toward building an informed, empowered, and united disability community in Akwa Ibom State and across the Niger Delta region, capable of driving inclusive development and ensuring that no one is left behind.
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