By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ensuring social justice for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and those with special needs.
Speaking at the National Annual Conference and the 2nd Edition of ‘The Podium’, a platform for advocating social justice, organized by De-Real Life International Foundation (DERLIF), the senior presidential aide highlighted the administration’s drive to promote fairness and equity for marginalized groups.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Barr. Yusuf Iyodo, Hon. Abba Isa delivered a speech on the theme, “Social Justice, with People of Special Needs and Equal Opportunities.”
He described disability as a social construct, an evolving concept, that can be overcome with the privilege of functional social justice system,
“With a functional social justice system, we will be able to overcome disability and even obliterate it completely,” he stressed.
Barr. Iyodo highlighted disability challenges to include social stigma, where PWDs are labeled as disabled, inferior or less than human.
He also mentioned that there is the experience of social stereotype, social exclusion where public institutions are unaccessible, and PWDs are unable to participate in daily life and make their meaningful contributions.
The SSAP emphasized President Tinubu’s dedication to implementing the National Disability Act, a key legislation aimed at fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for PWDs.
The act mandates, among other provisions, that 5% of employment opportunities in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) be reserved for PWDs.
He added that the President upon assumption of office signed the African Charter on Human Rights of Persons With Disabilities in recognition of the importance of legal framework as the foundation for disability rights protection and inclusion.
The presidential aide also highlighted the crucial role of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) in driving the full implementation of this legislation.
He underscored that the signing of the National Disability Act in 2018 marked a pivotal moment for disability inclusion and rights protection in Nigeria.
The conference was designed to address critical issues including educational prosperity, gender-based violence, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals.
The Podium serves as a social platform that tackles a wide array of societal issues including social justice, equity, and the integration of rehabilitated individuals back into society.
The conference aims to ignite important conversations about the criminal justice system and human rights, providing a platform for discussants including social workers, faith-based organizations, traditional rulers, and former incarcerated persons to share experiences and offer solutions.
According to DERLIF, the vision of the conference is to instill dignity and hope in individuals, particularly inmates within correctional facilities, both in Nigeria and across Africa.
The foundation also plans to create a robust virtual presence to expand the reach of discussions on these crucial issues, inviting knowledgeable voices to contribute to conversations surrounding criminal justice and social equity.
This event further demonstrated the government’s unwavering stance on promoting inclusivity and fair treatment for all, especially for vulnerable populations such as PWDs, as part of a broader agenda to strengthen social justice in Nigeria.
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