Abuja: An NGO, Empowering Abilities Through Inclusive Pages (EATIP), has attributed the persistent stigmatization faced by Children With Disabilities (CWDs) to low public awareness and limited representation. EATIP Project Manager, Mrs. Praise Akobo, emphasized this point during an advocacy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, EATIP is supported by the European Union and is committed to addressing the challenges faced by CWDs. Akobo highlighted the lack of awareness among parents and caregivers about the rights and opportunities available for children with disabilities, which contributes to the stigma faced by this group.
Despite existing policies like the country’s inclusive education policy and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Act 2018, awareness about the rights of CWDs remains low, Akobo noted. The purpose of her visit was to seek a partnership with the agency to alter the narrative on the stigmatization of CWDs through regular media coverage.
Akobo pointed out that stakeholders rarely engage with the disability community, resulting in ineffective accessibility efforts. She also mentioned that school employers often lack adequate knowledge of disability issues and emphasized the need for continuous training for teachers to accommodate various impairments.
The project manager advocated for inclusive awareness programs that focus on disability-related issues. She called for dedicated columns, features, and disability-focused reporters to enhance inclusive education. Akobo described the News Agency of Nigeria as a “media oracle” and stressed the importance of media engagement in amplifying awareness, educating stakeholders, and challenging stereotypes.
She further called for an inclusive environment where children and young adults with disabilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully from an early age. In response, Ali, represented by the Editor-in-Chief of the agency, Mufutau Ojo, commended the NGO’s initiative and affirmed NAN’s commitment to supporting the project. He assured that the agency would continue to drive public interest journalism, emphasizing its role as the largest content provider in Africa.
“We have a duty to support this initiative, and we would do so in the quest to promote public interest journalism,” he stated.