Grace Egila
Lokoja – According to the United Nations, the commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is also an investment in a common future.
The world report on disability, published in 2011 says about 25 million Nigerians have at least one form of disability while 3.6 million of them had very significant difficulties in functioning.
Only a few states in Nigeria have shown interest and commitment to addressing the concerns of people living with special needs or people living with disabilities (PWDs).
In Kogi state, PWDs are lamenting the hardships they face on a daily basis.
Recently, some of them shared their heart-touching stories at a one-day training workshop organized by Stallion Times Media Services on “Disability Reporting in the Media.”
PWDs disclosed that neglect, stigmatization, marginalization, and discrimination are what they face day-in-day-out.
Samuel Mark is a young man with abnormal forward curvature (Hungback). He is from Dekina local government.
He said after eight years of graduating from school, he has been searching for a job in government agencies and private companies, but he is yet unemployed.
“I am a BA degree holder in English and literary studies. I equally have a National Certificate in Education (NCE).
“I came to Kogi state about 8 years ago in search of work and up until now I have not been able to secure any job for myself.”
He is of the opinion that it is not just in Kogi state. Nigerians generally have a tendency of looking down on people with disabilities.
“Some people treat us with contempt, thinking that we are nothing but liabilities. Securing employment in the state civil service is difficult; most of the job vacancies are always filled by able-bodied people.”
“The private companies are even more discriminating than government agencies in Kogi State.
“It is impossible to see any disabled person working with a private company even if they have the required qualification to fill such a post.
“As unemployed physically challenged persons, we struggle to survive on a daily basis, unlike the able-bodied persons who if unemployed have other options of menial jobs like driving, building, and construction works.
“Poverty has made some of us go into street begging, some commit suicide in the process as a result of depression.
“For me, with my added knowledge of computer literacy, I do some menial typing and printing jobs which have become the only means of survival.
He said presently, that marriage is a no-go area for PWD.
“I can’t even think of marriage as nobody wants to marry us.
Mark appleade to parents of able-bodied people to give out their daughters or sons who have found love with any trusted and hard-working PWD in the community.
“We want people to consider and understand that there is ability in disability.
“It is on record that PWDs are loveable people. Those that are married are living happily in harmony with their spouses and children. We have a brother who has two wives with over ten children. He caters to their needs.
“In marriage, we are romantic, gifted, and talented.
“I don’t know why parents with whose daughter or sons we find love discriminate and frustrate our marriage proposals.”
Maji Luke is a cripple. He shared his one and last attempt at marriage experience.
“In 2019 I fell in love with a girl in my community. She agreed to marry me despite my condition but along the way she faced stiff opposition from her parents and relatives.
“Going through this emotional trauma was not easy for me, as I am still living with the pain. After that experience, I told myself I was never going to date any girl again because, in the end, rejection and mockery will be the result.
“Parents should please allow their children to integrate and marry whoever they chose, PWDs are not less human, we also deserve a good life.
He also encouraged PWDs to acquire skills and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset rather than allow society to view them as liabilities.
“I am a shoemaker. At least I can feed myself without depending on anyone,” he proudly said.
On his part, the National Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAWPD) Kogi state Chapter, Comrade Solomon Yahaya, said some of the challenges faced by his members include a lack of access to free education.
He also said there are no free health care services for pregnant women with disabilities as well as wives of persons with disabilities.
“Sight saver is enlightening people about access to eye care which does not include other services as far as health is concerned,” he said.
He, however, said the National Disability Act talked about the need for agencies and companies to give 5 percent of their employment opportunities to persons with disabilities.
in March 2022, a Disability Act was passed by the Kogi state government.
He said currently there is ongoing recruitment for teachers, JONAWPD has written to the state government demanding the inclusion of PWDs in the scheme, to test the implementation ability of the law.
The Chairman, therefore, calls for the implementation of the Disability Act to address some the PWD challenges, especially sanctions for those who abuse them.
