From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The federal government has advocated for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the country.
The Director, Social Security and Cooperative Development, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Franca Adiekweh, made the advocacy during a roadshow by the Ministry to create awareness on disability rights in the country, as part of activities to mark the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
According to a statement by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Patience Onuobia, Adiekweh described the roadshow as a walk by the Ministry to advocate for the rights of people living with disabilities.
According to her, the event was aimed at creating awareness about the plight of the disabled in society, with a view to defending their rights. She maintained that persons living with disabilities have rights, and these rights should be protected.
Adiekweh said: “So, that is basically what we are doing this morning. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a yearly event that takes place on December 3 every year. It is an event that was instituted by the United Nations. It is a day set aside for people living with disabilities, for their voices to be heard and for their needs to be pointed out to society, to ensure that the right thing is done.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Ayuba Gufwa, expressed happiness that the Ministry of Labour and Employment was celebrating the day. Gufwa described the event as a day for stocktaking, remembrance of people living with disabilities around the world, and bringing their plight to the fore.
Gufwa said: “It is a day that we take a look at how far we have come in this journey. I know that as the disability community, we are not where we were yesterday. Even though we are not at our destination, we are making significant progress, and I am happy that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is celebrating this day.”
He challenged other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of government to join in the creation of awareness about the day for people with disabilities, so that jointly, they can review the journey thus far.