WOYAEN Organizes Town hall Meeting With Persons With Disabilities, Community Action Partners On Inclusiveness In Politics, Governance

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria.

Women And Youth Empowerment Network ,( WOYAEN)  has organized town hall meeting for Persons With Disabilities (PWDS) and stakeholders on the community action for social Inclusion In Politics and Political leadership in Kaduna.

The event which brought together 16 communities in Chukun Local Government Areas of Kaduna state was meant to give the group the sense of belonging and at the same time

create a fora for a healthy interaction on matters relating to their general well being.

The Executive Director, Women And Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) Dr. Mrs. Rakiya Shonekan in her opening remark had stressed on the importance of the group partaking in the 2023 electoral process as that will pave way for Inclusiveness  in governance.

Their active participation in the electoral process and governance she described as very key.

“l am pleased and highly honoured to welcome you all to this special episode of the WE – YOU PRO Project.

This meeting has great significance because it is premise on the political calendar of our nation, building up to the

2023 general elections.

An active involvement of key project target group – persons with disabilities in the electoral process and governance.”

Dr  Rakiya urged them to obtain their voters cards, and be up to date in every electoral process as that will assure their Inclusiveness.

Speaking,  she informed that WOYAEN  was established in 2005.  Its activities have recorded measurable level of successes and its mission and vision statement pursued to the letter.

The meeting objectives according to her is to establish shared understanding for community level self -administration and self-help groups.

To sensitize persons with disabilities (PWDS) on government welfare programs for disabled persons and how they can key into it.

Also, to sensitize them on INEC’s provision for disability persons in voting as well as provide them with platform to participate in the CVR exercise.

Since their work is enormous, the organization is partnering with some relevant persons and organizations. One of such organizations being ActionAid Nigeria which is funded by UKAid.

“ActionAid Nigeria and UKAid saw it fit to partners on this project which they have titled, the Campaign for Inclusion of Women and Young People in Politics and Political Processes(We-YOU Pro) Project with the theme “Hope, Action and Progress for Women and Youth

The projects she informed are being implemented for the purpose of creating awareness, sensitizing as well as promoting the involvement of the socially excluded/maginalised citizens.

Recalling their achievements which she said was evidence in the participation of some key stakeholders at various stages of their activities, Dr. Rakiya however lamented the fact that women and youth  collectively make up about 70 percent of the nation’s population, and yet they occupy less than 5 percent of leadership structures in the society.

Their Mission statement she assured of advocating for, and promoting good governance, human rights, equal opportunities and an inclusive society; and Vision statement of  “seeing a society where every girl, boy, and man irrespective of their challenge is valued, empowered and invested to succeed and advancing humanity “ will be vigorously pursued.

Speaking, former Chairman,  Joint National Association Of Persons With Disability (JONAP),  Mallam Rilwan Muhammed, a one time Special Assistant on NGOs and Students Affairs under former Vice President Namadi Sambo then Governor of Kaduna state called on persons with disabilities to exert their worth. There is ability in disability he said saying, there are many talented persons amongst them but are not given the opportunity to proof their worth. He cited example of one Mercy Daniel who seek for the position of counsellorship despite the fact that she was qualified but deprived on the basis of her disposition.

He however commended the efforts of some state governments who find it necessary to create opportunities for some of them.

Mallam Rilwan lauded the recent move by both Houses of Rep. and Senate on the amendment to increase their retirement age.

Adding his voice, pastor Monday encouraged his members to have faith in God and themselves saying, they are special people before God. He lamented that a lot of promises are usually made by government which are never fulfilled.

Persons with disabilities are supposed to be accorded special treatments just as it is being done in other parts of the world.

They have constitutional rights which many of them are not aware of , one of such is where the constitution gives them 20%  recognition in any filling station they find themselves.

Dr. Pastor Monday in his words of encouragement charged his members to remove from them all forms of inferiority complex and make it to the top. According to him,  “I have taken the disadvantage of my disability to get to the top”.

Since it was an open fora for the PWDS to interact, comments on the need for Inclusion in policy making was stressed. They called for more accessibility to public places. Building they said should have specifications that will take care of persons with disabilities. Building permits should be given to only those with such specification.

All Progressive Congress Disabled Leader, Hon  Bawa Kajuru in his encouraging words enjoined them to join politics as a way of seeking for recognition.

On the other hand, speaking from the perception of the youth, Mallam Abubakar is of the believe that there is nothing like social Inclusion in terms of political participation. All that is being said he described as mare lip service.

He urged government to earmark some seats for persons with disabilities just as it is being done in other outside countries.

Earlier, the Head of Programs, Women and Youth, Ime Thomas had explained that part of the objectives of the meeting was to at the end of the interactive session put in place a steering committee.