Mr Theophilus Odaudu, the Programme Officer, Disability Rights Fund (DRF) for Nigeria,
says mainstreaming disability into government programmes and policies is imperative toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Odaudu, also the Programme Officer, Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja to commemorate the International Day for People with Disabilities (IDPD).
accessible to all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to push for the implementation of existing laws and policies; modification of discriminatory
ones and formulation of new ones.”
He said the implementation of the National Disability Strategy of 2010–2020 was poor, as PWDs still suffer exclusion.
According to him, persons with disabilities are in every society, hence government should embark on total inclusion drive in every facets
of societal life, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called for programmes and policies to manage the pandemic and for life after COVID-19.
He noted that “government needs to be deliberate about inclusion and accessibility if sustainable development is the target.”
He said DRF had disbursed over 600,000 dollar grants to OPDs for disability rights advocacy and organisational strengthening across the country in the last three years.
Odauda, therefore, advised PWDs and other stakeholders to be focused, persistent and vocal in calling for the protection of their rights;
and to work together as partners and not as competitors.
“It is important that we also consider the most vulnerable and marginalised among us like the deaf, blind persons with psychosocial disabilities,
women and girls with disabilities and so on and ensure that their voices are also heard and their rights respected and protected.’’ (NAN)
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