Benue govt promises persons with disabilities adequate support

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Theresa Ikwue gave the assurance at one day multi-stakeholders dialogue on disability-inclusive participation in climate governance, negotiation and decision-making held in Makurdi on Thursday.

According to the commissioner, the state government was ready to support persons with disabilities of meaningful participation in community development.

The programme was organised by Hope Alive Possibilities Initiative, HAPI with support from the Disability Rights Fund, held in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Represented by the director in the ministry, Mrs. Magdalene Andoor, the commissioner assured the organisation of government interventions,

While applauding the HAPI for organising the dialogue, the Commissioner said the dialogue was timely and called on relevant stakeholders to always think towards the wellbeing of People with Disabilities, particularly women and girls children.

According to her, “Our ministry is open to dialogue, inclusion and needed partnership to promote people with disabilities.

“Today’s dialogue is timely because the disability community is a community that the ministry works closely with. Therefore, we are fully supporting what HAPI is doing in the State.”

Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, HAPI, Aver Akighir, stated that climate-related emergencies can create additional barriers for persons with disabilities and said that early warning message may not be accessible to a person who is deaf.

Akighir said that an emergency shelter may not be accessible to a wheelchair user, while woman with a disability may lose her livelihood during flooding and still struggle to access recovery programmes.

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She therefore encouraged government, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as well as the organisations of Persons with Disabilities to see the dialogue as an opportunity to move from consultation to influence, and from commitments on paper to action on ground.

“With the support of the Disability Rights Fund, HAPI is proud to convene this conversation because we believe that climate action can not truly be inclusive if persons with disabilities are left behind,” Akighir said.

She further stated that Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to disability inclusion through the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, as well as its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mrs Akighir argued that having policies and laws is one thing but turning those commitments into meaningful participation is another, hence, the need for the dialogue.

She said, “This is why we are here in Benue. The question is no longer whether persons with disabilities should be included in climate governance. The question is: Are we giving them a real seat at the table?

“Are persons with disabilities involved when climate policies are developed?

Are climate budgets disability-inclusive?

Are early warning systems accessible?

Are persons with disabilities represented in climate-related decision-making and negotiations?”

In her goodwill message, the State Coordinator of Civil Society Organisation – Zone B, Blessing Adzege, enjoined stakeholders to ensure that persons with disabilities are not merely represented at meetings, but are provided with genuine opportunities to contribute, influence decisions and participate throughout the policy cycle from agenda setting and negotiation to implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Adzege, who was represented by Mr Moses Makere, maintained that climate change affects everyone, but its impacts are not experienced equally, stressing that persons with disabilities, women, girls and other vulnerable groups can face additional barriers in accessing information, resources, services and decision-making spaces.

“It is therefore important that climate policies and programmes are not only designed for communities but are developed with the meaningful participation of the people most affected.

“As civil society organisations in Benue State, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting inclusive climate governance, disability rights, gender equality, citizen participation and accountable decision-making,” she said