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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Albino Foundation have joined forces to promote political participation of persons with special needs in the 20223 general elections.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission James David Lalu on Monday in Abuja, who received in audience a delegation from the Foundation, said the partnership will spawn the visibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities especially during voting exercise.
In a statement by NCPWD Head Media and Publicity, Mbanefo JohnMichaels , he said: “This is an opportunity to continue to negotiate our inclusion and also determine who occupies positions of authority in the interests of Persons with Disabilities.”
Lalu reaffirmed that Voter-Ability is an important platform for PWDs to demonstrate their strength in the polity.
He commended the projects intended by the Foundation with support from European Union and informed that it was in line with the Commission’s mandate and vision, with the promised of giving maximum support to the initiative.
According to him, Sign language has come to stay and will be given express attention.
“It is interesting to note that there are diverse sign languages in Nigeria and this had compelled the Commission to produce the sign language dictionary as a guide for seamless interpretation for the deaf community.
“We have equally gone a step further to facilitate the National policy on sign language” he explained .
Lastly, the Executive Secretary informed that signing of the MOU will be facilitated very soon so as to commence the project execution process.
Earlier, the founder and CEO of the Albino Foundation, Jake Ekpelle acknowledged the resilience and passion demonstrated by the ES over the years in addressing Disability- related matters.
“I have seen the genuineness of James Lalu and I have no doubt about his competence.” He said.
Ekpelle took time to reel out the projects outlined by the Foundation and seized the occasion to solicit the cooperation of the Executive Secretary.
He said that part of the project intended include: voter-ability, Elect-ability, Elect- Hub which is tech- based targeting about 100- 150 PWDs to be elected during 2023 voting exercise.
According to him, the data center for PWDs which carries an application to get an on the spot capacity to report the events during electioneering has been put in place.
He stressed the importance of sign language interpreters, saying that they have become essentials in the disability community and will be incorporated in the legislative process at the National Assembly.
