By NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has called for the inclusion of women with disability in leadership positions to contribute their quota to the development of Africa.
The President of JONAPWD, Mr Abdullahi Usman, made the call at the three-day workshop for the Movement Building and Leadership Workshop with Intersectional Women Leaderrs in West Africa in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by JONAPWD and supported by Disability Rights Fund and Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria.
He said that women with disability had a lot to offer to Africa.
”Disability is not an indication of inability, hence the need for their inclusion in leadership roles.
“We understand that women with disability face multiple discrimination. We want women with disability in Africa to understand that they are fighting for their fundamental human rights.
“It is worthy of note that the issue of disability is not a matter of charity but fundamental human rights.
“The workshop is part of the advocacy and fight for the rights of persons including women with disabilities in West Africa.
“I want to use this opportunity to call for the holistic inclusion of women with disabilities into leadership roles across West Africa. The have the mental fitness and capacity to deliver,” Usman said.
Similarly, the Woman Leader of JONAPWD, Hajiya Zainab Mustapha noted that women with disabilities suffer multiple discrimination and lack access to education, healthcare and justice.
Mustapha added that they are not empowered and thus lack access to leadership positions in different sector of the economy.
Also speaking, the Human Rights Officer at the American Embassy, Mr Andray Abrahamian commended JONAPWD, adding that the U.S. was working with Nigeria on a range of issues.
“We have so many things we are trying to assist Nigeria and the ECOWAS Region with. We believe that to be stable and prosperous, inclusion is a neccesity”.
Meanwhile, the Programme Officer on Soccial Development at the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs Abimbola Oyelohunnu said the commission gives priority to issues concerning PWDs.
“The Vision 2050 of ECOWAS is not silent. It is loud in terms of promoting the rights of PWDs. We have adopted a regional strategy on disability mechanism and also developed an a ton plan on disability inclusion. (NAN)