FG, Benue, Delta States lauds EU CBM, as D-RAPID launches to empower persons with disabilities

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda no doubt is leaving no stone unturned, FG has again reaffirmed its administration’s commitment to an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities are carried along in the scheme of things.

At the official launch of the Disability Rights Advocacy Project for Inclusive Development-(D-RAPID) on Monday at the Abuja Continental Hotels, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to disability rights.

Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, who serves as a keynote speaker at the official launch of D-RAPID reaffirms Tinubu’s commitment to disability rights. The launch of the Disability Rights Advocacy, Protection, and Implementation Delivery (D-RAPID) project marks a significant milestone in promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for Nigerians with disabilities”, Mohammed Abba Isa stated.

The President SSA however, highlighted
Key Strategies for Successful Implementation To ensure the D-RAPID project achieves its objectives, Hon. Isa recommends the following strategies:

Strengthening OPD Leadership and Representation

– Empower Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to take leadership roles in project design, implementation, and monitoring.

– Leverage their lived experiences to ensure contextual relevance and effective disability rights advocacy.

Building Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

– Foster collaboration among government ministries, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, and the private sector.
– Create a broad coalition to enforce disability rights and promote inclusivity.

. State-Level Implementation Approach

– Develop state-level action plans and advocacy strategies, focusing on states that have not yet domesticated the Disability Act.

– Ensure effective implementation and compliance with disability rights legislation.

Investing in Legal Awareness and Accessibility Training

– Provide regular training for public officials, employers, and service providers on the Disability Act.
– Promote awareness and encourage voluntary compliance to reduce discrimination.

Establishing Data and Evidence Systems

– Develop robust data tracking mechanisms and evidence-based reporting tools-

Monitor progress, identify challenges, and showcase success stories to inform future initiatives.

By implementing these strategies, the D-RAPID project can effectively promote disability rights and empower Nigerians with disabilities to thrive. Hon. Isa’s commitment to this cause is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive society where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

The Country Director, of CBM in Nigeria, Omoi Samuel, earlier in his welcome address said: “The D-RAPID project focuses on disability rights and Advocacy for policy inclusive and development in Nigeria, today marks the very significant step towards its collective efforts to promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, according to the Country Director, the project which was co-funded by the European Union delegation in Nigeria aligns squarely with the EU strategy, affirming that human rights are not optional but what it should be doing.”

Standard-Times Nigeria however gathers that the usual Sayings of persons with disabilities “Nothing about us without us, has now changed globally to “Nothing without us”, The country Director, in a statement hopes that as they progress to implement the project, it will going to be nothing without persons with disabilities”, He assured.

The project which is aimed at all-inclusive has a great narrative changed from”, Nothing for us without us, to now,” Nothing without us”, Every of us must make that commitment even as we celebrate today this project that going forward wherever you found yourself, wherever you are, that is going to be nothing without us, nothing without persons with disabilities”, The CBM country Director in Nigeria, Omoi Samuel, concluded.

Speaking to Standard-Times Nigeria correspondent, the Delta State Governor, ably represented by the SA to the Governor on disability matters, and Chairman of joint National Association of persons with disabilities, Delta State chapter, Hon. Ernest Igbuzor, said: “Gracefully the disabilities bill has been passed and is awaiting domestication while commending as timely, the official launch of the D-RAPID, he expressed gratitude to the Christian Blind Mission – CBM, for the choice of Delta State, noting that the project is timely, just as he expressed joy for CBM coming in to advocate and to push to see that they mainstream in the activities of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the best global practice and in line with 2018 provision act, Hon. Ernest expresses Delta State readiness to work with CBM to achieve this great goal”, Hon Ernest states.

Meanwhile, the Majority leader of the 10th Member of Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Comrade Saater Tiser, has expressed bliss about the official launch of the D-RAPID project, according to him this has shown the concerns of Society, to the Plight of vulnerable people, particularly, he said people with disabilities, this has been a great concern over time, and today marks the beginning of the action, especially in Benue state”, Hon. Tiser remarked

We are happy because we came at a time that we have considered the policy, the law to domesticate in Benue State”, Hon. Tiser added.

Hon. Tiser sincerely appreciates CBM partners and the European Union who CO-Funded the project,

On the project’s quick implementation Hon. Tiser said: “Though regimes come and as a society, we are also growing, we are following the road either, and there is need for care for vulnerable people, and I think when they come for the round of elections people who people place in places have to be reassessed by themselves and people who place them have to assess them based on that performance, he stresses that he believes they are working up to meet the demands to ensure that the implementation will not fail, promise timely and successful Implementation of the project.”

Hon. Tiser, however, expressed joy for the breakthrough in the Plight of vulnerable people and disabilities, particularly in Benue and Nigeria.

Amongst others who spoke at the official launch of the D-RAPID were, Bright Ekweremadu, Global Head of program implementation CBM, European Union, Wynyfred Achu Egbuson, Programme Manager CSO Strengthening European Union delegation,

In attendance were the officials of the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and NCPWD, amongst others.

The official launch of D-RAPID had its attendees entertained by the Nigerian cultural troupe, cutting the cake with group photos.