Abuja: Two groups of persons with disabilities on Monday renewed calls for stronger government action and better coordination to support underrepresented disability clusters. Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) made the call during a Political Economy and Gender Analysis of Underrepresented Groups in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, highlighted that the project, funded by the Finnish Government and supported by CBM Global Disability Inclusion, focused on three disability clusters considered the most marginalised within the movement. These clusters include persons who are deaf, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and persons with intellectual disabilities. Jerry indicated that the meeting aimed to address collaboration gaps with ministries, departments, agencies, and other organisations of persons with disabilities.
Jerry emphasized the importance of tailored interventions from government bodies to serve these communities, urging for policies that focus on implementable solutions rather than token gestures. She expressed optimism that the commitments from the meeting would guide ministries, departments, agencies, and organisations of persons with disabilities to inclusively support marginalised groups.
The National President of JONAPWD, Abdullah Usman, represented by North Central Zonal Coordinator Mike Gideon, reinforced concerns about unequal visibility and limited support for these clusters. Usman highlighted the vulnerability of these groups and the necessity for health, education, and human rights attention, emphasizing that disability rights are fundamental human rights, not charitable acts.
Usman also expressed gratitude to CBM Global for supporting the project, underscoring the importance of full implementation of the project’s findings for real impact.
Mr Cedric Owuru, Programme Officer at CBM Global Disability Inclusion, noted that the findings aligned with long-standing gaps affecting disability clusters, stressing that advocacy priorities are already supported by law. Owuru pointed out that marginalisation and exclusion are major drivers of poverty and disability, and stressed the need for national recognition of sign language and enforcement of inclusive education policies.
Owuru called for the enforcement of the Mental Health Act for persons with psychosocial disabilities and the full implementation of inclusive education policies for persons with intellectual disabilities. He stated that these requests are supported by national and international disability rights frameworks, and emphasized the essential role of coordination among government bodies for meaningful change.