…Recommends Strategic Measures for Effective Implementation of D-RAPID Project
By Lanre Oloyede
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called for sustained stakeholder collaboration and strategic partnerships to ensure inclusive development for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
Speaking as a keynote speaker on Monday in Abuja at the official launch of the Disability Rights Advocacy Project for Inclusive Development (D-RAPID), a three-year action plan co-funded by Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) International and the European Union (EU), Hon. Abba Isa emphasized that partnerships and advocacy were pivotal to the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and remain equally crucial for its effective implementation.
“The time for implementation is now. The moratorium period provided by the Act has long expired. The good and decent life we seek for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria lies squarely in the faithful and deliberate implementation of the National Disability Act,” he asserted.
Hon. Abba Isa reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, noting that the signing of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in October 2023 underscored Nigeria’s dedication to upholding both national and international frameworks on disability rights.
“The government I represent is fully committed to inclusion and open to ideas, innovations, and initiatives that promote the visibility, voice, and value of Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
He commended CBM and the EU for their “foresight and unwavering commitment” in initiating the D-RAPID project, which he described as a timely intervention in aligning national development goals with disability inclusion.
Key Recommendations for D-RAPID Implementation
The Senior Special Assistant also proposed five key strategies for the successful implementation of the D-RAPID initiative:
1. Strengthen OPD Leadership and Representation: OPDs should be positioned as leaders, not just beneficiaries, in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the project.
2. Institutionalize Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Build strong alliances among government agencies, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), civil society, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the private sector.
3. Adopt a State-Level Implementation Approach: Incorporate state-specific action plans, particularly in states yet to domesticate the Disability Act.
4. Invest in Legal Awareness and Accessibility Training: Train public officials and service providers to ensure wider understanding and compliance with the Act.
5. Build Data and Evidence Systems: Develop robust mechanisms for tracking progress, identifying challenges, and highlighting success stories.
He revealed that his office has developed a comprehensive Strategic Plan for the implementation of the National Disability Act and pledged to align it with the D-RAPID framework, promising to submit a formal copy to CBM and the EU.
Voices from the Launch
In his welcome address, CBM Country Director, Omoi Samuel, described the D-RAPID initiative as a “significant step” towards advancing disability rights and inclusion in Nigeria.
“The project changes the narrative from ‘Nothing for us without us’ to ‘Nothing without us.’ Every one of us must commit to this ideal,” he said.
Delta State’s Governor, represented by his Special Assistant on Disability Matters and Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Delta, Hon. Ernest Igbuzor, commended the choice of Delta State as a focus area, describing the launch as timely. He reaffirmed Delta State’s readiness to collaborate with CBM to mainstream disability inclusion.
Benue State Majority Leader, Hon. Comrade Saater Tiser, also lauded the initiative, stating that it represents a new beginning for disability advocacy in the state. “We are happy this is happening just as Benue is preparing to domesticate the Disability Law,” he said.
Other notable speakers included Bright Ekweremadu, Global Head of Programme Implementation at CBM; Wynyfred Achu Egbuson, Programme Manager for CSO Strengthening at the EU Delegation; and representatives from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, and the NCPWD.
The D-RAPID project is expected to catalyze a nationwide movement for the realization of disability rights, with its success hinging on a united front among government, civil society, and development partners.
