Expert Meets to Follow-Up on Global Disability Summit, Highlights Urgency for Government Action

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Experts and advocates that promote disability inclusive development have gathered to assess the Nigerian government’s commitments made during the Global Disability Summit and discuss the impending end of the grace period for the Disability Act in January 2024.

Speaking at the crucial one-day consultative review meeting held in Abuja, on Friday, the lead speaker, Creative Director of Potters Gallery Initiative Nigeria, Donald Unanka, emphasized the need to scrutinize the government’s progress in fulfilling the commitments made at the Global Disability Summit.

Unanka stated, “ We are here today to review those promises. Have they been able to fulfill those promises they made in the last two Global Disability Summit commitments?”

He stressed the importance of the meeting as the grace period expiration approaches, anticipating increased litigation and public engagement to ensure strict implementation.

“ This meeting is coming at a point when there’s a lot of anxiety, there’s a lot of readiness to ensure that the government does the right thing based on that disability law,” Unanka added.

Creative Director of Potters Gallery Initiative explained that the consultative review aimed to hold the government accountable for its promises, addressing issues such as reproductive health, inclusive education, economic empowerment, and employment for people with disabilities.

The meeting provided a platform to evaluate the current status and identify areas requiring immediate attention. “ More needs to be done by the government to ensure they fulfill the commitment they made in the last two Global Disability Summits,” Unanka emphasized.

He further highlighted the organization’s focus on economic empowerment and employment for persons with disabilities within the global commitments. Expressing gratitude for support from CBM Global, the Unanka emphasized the strategic timing of the meeting as an opportunity to test and assess the Disability Act’s impact on government commitments.

“ I have no doubt that this meeting will produce the desired result in pushing for disability inclusion based on the global commitments,” Unanka stated.

On her part, Executive Director for Family Centre Initiative for Challenged Persons (FACIP), Uyebi Sandra, shed light on the government’s commitments made during the 2018 Global Disability Summit in London.

Sandra stressed the importance of utilizing creative arts as a tool for advocacy and urged stakeholders to collaborate in holding the government accountable.

“ We are here today to speak with stakeholders, let them just tell us which way we will go forward,” Sandra said.

Addressing the impending deadline for access to public facilities, Sandra called for the establishment of a concrete task force to enforce compliance with the Disability Act.

She highlighted the necessity of government intervention, stating that a mere directive would not suffice without a robust enforcement mechanism.

“ My own opinion is that they should put the task force in place that will go from building to building. Anyone that is found wanting should face the law according to what the Disability Act says,” Sandra urged.

With the grace period set to expire in January 2024, the meeting emphasized the urgency for the government to fulfill its commitments, enforce the Disability Act, and ensure disability-inclusive development.