
Executive Director, JODER, Mr Adewale Adeoye speaking at the event
Authorities have been urged to put effective measures in place for the full implementation of the Disability Rights Law to ensure equal treatment and participation of People With Disabilities (PWDs) across the country.
Speaking at a One-Day Media Training on Reporting People With Disabilities PWDs and held at G.R.A, Ikeja Lagos, the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Mr. David Anyaele said this is necessary to achieve the desired goal of education for all.

Participants at the event

Program Co-ordinator, DEVCOMS, Bukola George facilitating a Session
The training is titled “Community Support Centre and Awareness Creation for Children with Special Needs in Lagos Invitation to Media Training”.
Anyaele who spoke on “Reporting Diversity with Specific Focus on PWDs’ laments that many people with disabilities faces a number of human rights abuses including stigma, discrimination, violence and lack of access to basic healthcare, housing and education.
The CDD Director highlights effects of non inclusive education of Children with disabilities to include: Unemployment, Poverty, Lack of representation, exploitation, poor health, among others.
While commending the role of the media in promoting the rights of PWDs before now, Anyaele enjoins the media to do more, thereby contributing to an effective and successful integration of PWDs in all aspects of societal life.
“Media also play a vital role in raising awareness, fighting stigma and misinformation” said Anyaele.
He spoke of the need for media, to partner with Organisations working on disability issues.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director, Journalists For Democratic Rights (JODER) Mr Wale Adeoye, applauds the media for taking leadership roles in promoting and fighting for the rights of PWDs.
“However more need to be done, the essence of this workshop is to engage ourselves on how best to report people with disabilities, said Adeoye.
“As journalists there are still lots of contributions to make, our responsibility is to make those in power uncomfortable for any sins committed against the people they govern.
We need to continue to re-awaken the society, the elected leaders and social and democratic institutions to their responsibilities” said Adeoye.
“As at 2020, there are reportedly over 27 million Nigerians living with some forms of disability. The five most common types of disabilities in Nigeria are, in descending order, visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment, intellectual impairment, and communication impairment.
According to Adeoye, some are born with disabilities while some grow to acquire the status of being physically less privileged”
The project according to the Executive Director, E-SIGNED, Adeoye is with the support of the Ford Foundation West Africa Region.
JODER, Adeoye pointed out with the support of Ford Foundation has established a Community Support Centre and Awareness Creation for Children With Special Needs at Surulere in Lagos.
In Nigeria, where about 18.5% children are out of school according to UNICEF, ascertaining the percentage of those with learning and other types of disabilities is next to impossible as official data is non-existent.
In attendance at the Media Training are journalists from Print, Broadcast, Online, Civil Society Organisations, students from Special Schools and their teachers.
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