Foundation to mainstream persons with disability in governance

Foundation to mainstream persons with disability in governance
By Talatu Maiwada
Governance
Abuja, March 15, 2018 (NAN) Mr Jake Epelle, President, The Albino Foundation (TAF), on Thursday said the foundation has embarked on a campaign to mainstream Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in democratic governance in Nigeria.
Epelle told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that such platforms would enable persons with disability contribute their quota to national development.
He said the advocacy focuses on positioning persons with disability into the electoral process and getting them to compete for elective positions.
“ We have developed specific ideas and concepts that will permanently address issues of not just participation in the electoral process by means of voting but for us to be voted for.
“We don’t just want an opportunity to vote, we want to be voted for.
“If two or three persons with disability or albinism occupy an elective office like House of Representatives, Senate, governorship then we can raise political champions and role models that others can emulate.
“We want to send a message to policy makers, stakeholders and the society that we desire to be given equal opportunities as citizens of this country.
“Opportunities could be given to those qualified among us in terms of political appointments, entrepreneurship empowerment, education and political participation, among others,’’ he said.
Epelle added that the campaign involves embarking on a strategic advocacy programme that would scale up awareness in a holistic and professional way.
He said policies, systems and processes would be developed professionally to provide a guide for persons with disability willing to participate or be voted for in the electoral process.
He further stated that a framework that will contain based line studies and various surveys of persons with disabilities would be provided for INEC to address barriers of PWDs for better participation in elections.
“A framework containing baseline studies and various surveys of PWDs will be conducted and given to INEC as aggregated information of persons with disabilities.
“For instance, in every polling station we should be able to know how many visually impaired persons, how many are on wheelchair, how many persons with albinism and other disabilities will be participating in voting.
“Getting these figures will assist INEC to deploy appropriate number of systems, materials and equipment relevant and required for persons with disability in that particular polling station.
“Such equipment includes magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, Brailles for the visually impaired, trained personnel to interact with them, among others.
“That way time and resources will be conserved with improved participation,’’ Epelle said. (NAN)
TIM/AAB/MST
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola