The Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has revealed that approximately 29 million Nigerians live with some form of disability, representing 16% of the global estimate of 1.3 billion persons with disabilities.
This was disclosed by Ms. Florence Attah, Program Officer of CCD, at a capacity building workshop held in Benin City.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Inclusive Economic Opportunities and Community Resilience for Persons With Disabilities,” aimed to build the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and public institutions to become disability-inclusive in their programs and practices.
Attah attributed the high disability rate in Nigeria to various factors, including conflicts, violence, accidents, and a poor healthcare system. She expressed concern that the lack of comprehensive data and accurate database of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the country has made it challenging to determine the exact number of PWDs.
The National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, responsible for the welfare of PWDs, also lacks accurate data, Attah lamented. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by PWDs, including social stigma, discrimination, and limited access to education and employment opportunities.
In her presentation, “Understanding Disability Rights and Advocacy,” Attah highlighted various models of disability, including moral/religious, medical, charity, social, and human rights models. She stressed the importance of recognizing and respecting the rights of PWDs as equal members of society.
The Acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, thanked the US Consulate for supporting the project through the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
He emphasized the importance of building the capacity of CSOs and public institutions to promote disability inclusion in their programs and practices.
The project is being implemented in Abia and Edo states, with the goal of promoting inclusive economic opportunities and community resilience for persons with disabilities.
