Group advocates rights awareness, inclusion for persons with disabilities

EXECUTIVE Director, Voices of Disability Initiative (VDI), Catherine Edeh, has called for increased rights awareness and inclusion for Persons Living with Disability (PWD), especially women and girls, to improve their quality of life.

She made the call at a three-day review meeting of the five-year strategic plan of VDI, in partnership with Amplify Change, in Abuja.

Edeh noted that “Nigeria today is changing, and the clamour for disability inclusion is gaining momentum, especially with the passage of the Disability Act. We, therefore, need informed minds that will come together to help identify needs and better ways of educating the public on the rights of persons with disability.”

According to her, the strategic review is to allow the work of VDI to be all-encompassing so that no one, including PWD, in terms of access to education, health, equal treatment, and employment opportunities, among others

Edeh said: “We have brought together stakeholders from the private and public sectors to review our strategic plan by identifying weaknesses, loopholes, and anything that needs correction, as well as to expand and criticise what we do, giving recommendations towards efficiency and focus on our work.”

Executive Director, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Ayuba Gufwan, said that a strategic plan review is central to the effectiveness of an organisation, noting that the review by VDI will enable it to speak strongly on the yearnings of PWD in Nigeria.

Represented by the Acting Director, Social Intervention, Lawrence Idemudia, he pointed out that expert contribution to the strategic plan would not only ensure a strong organisation but would also complement the efforts of the government towards PWDs.