By Ademola Mariam Adekemi (SIWES Student, OGITECH)
At a workshop focused on governance and leadership for individuals with disabilities, funded by the European Union through its Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, Kole Shettima, the Country Director of the MacArthur Foundation, urged the National Bureau of Statistics to conduct a survey on disabilities in Nigeria.
Organized by the All-rights Foundation Africa in Abuja, the workshop gathered individuals with disabilities from across Nigeria to discuss enhancing political leadership and governance.
Shettima emphasized the need for accurate disability data in Nigeria to provide proper support and services. He urged appointed individuals with disabilities to become advocates, stressing that having precise data is crucial for effective representation and leadership.
Encouraging these appointed individuals to be role models, Shettima called for their voices to be heard in advocating for disability rights at national and state levels. He highlighted their significant role in bringing about meaningful change and emphasized challenging societal perceptions that view people with disabilities as unfit for leadership roles.
Jake Epelle, CEO of TAF Africa, pledged ongoing advocacy for disability inclusion in government at all levels, acknowledging the potential contributions of individuals with disabilities to national development. He underscored the importance of treating newly appointed individuals as government officials and monitoring their success to avoid hindrances to future appointments.
