The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has again reiterated the need for an all inclusive electoral and political participation for People With Disabilities (PWDs) adequately captured.
This was re-echoed on Tuesday by its Executive Director (ED), Mrs Grace Jerry, and the Program Manager, Mr. Moses Oluwaseyi, while on an advocacy visit to the Blueprint Corporate Headquarters.
While parlying the medium on need for increased sensitisation and participation of PWDs in government policy and electoral matters, the ED enjoined the media to join the advocacy and help fight perceived marginalization.
Speaking further, Jerry hinted that the ‘Access Nigeria’ Campaign unveiled by the Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) was aimed at inclusive electoral and political participation with people with disabilities.
She identified some of the challenges faced by PWDs to include, the absence of handrails and ramps at polling units, absence of updated data on Nigeria’s voters register and the unavailability of assistive materials such as the Braille ballot guide, magnifying glasses and Election Day instructional materials.
She said, “With the campaign, we are looking at employing data to address the inclusion and participation of over 30 million PWDs with the hope of addressing their challenges and also push for Nigeria’s first disability accessibility audit in coming elections in the country.
On media role, she recommended an increase in reporting and prioritising of PWDs matters by media houses and partnership between IFA and Blueprint Newspaper.
In his response, the Managing Editor Blueprint Newspaper, Mr Clement Oluwole, told the visitor that Blueprint has always identified with the plight of people living with disabilities via its editorial contents and yearly focus on World Albinism Day.
According to Oluwole, Blueprint Newspaper has been very consistent with coverage, the challenges, and frustration that PWD are facing in the country.
“Without being immodest, our focus on PWD was borne out of deliberate policy and social corporate responsibility which led to the passing of the Disability Rights bill into law in 2019,” he said.
Oluwole thereafter assured that the media entity would up their ante in order to further promote PWD-related issues in the country.
