By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration readiness to partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure the adoption and implementation of worthwhile disability rights policies and programmes aimed towards achieving that the objectives of Inclusive society.
Hon. Abba Isa stated this at the 2024 Grantee Convening of the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF) hosted by Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in partnership with Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
The event, themed “Building a Diverse Disability Movement in Nigeria: Exploring Underutilized Opportunities for Growth,” brought together leaders, innovators, and visionaries from Organizations of/for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria (OPDs/OfPDs).
According to the organizers, the purpose of the gathering was to foster insightful discussions, share groundbreaking project implementation updates, and create networking opportunities that drive growth and innovation toward the fulfillment of equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The meeting, according to report, is part of DRF/DRAF’s efforts to provide technical assistance and oversight to grantees with the goal of creating opportunities for grantees to learn and share lessons about their work and priorities, toward building a cohesive and inclusive movement that leaves no one behind.
While delivering a goodwill message as a Special Guest of Honor, the Senior Presidential aide, maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been dedicated to creating an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens.
The SSAP, who assured the organizers that their outstanding contributions towards disability inclusion will not go to waste, urged all the participants including the OPDs present to take advantage of the programme to enhance their technical know-how, saying “this is more needed now and, in the days to come, as we brace for implementation of the Nigerian Disability Act and Laws across the country.”
While thanking JONAPWD for inviting him to this meeting, the presidential aide commended DRF for the much impactful work that they have been doing, while stating that his office takes especial notice of their grantmaking, advocacy, and technical assistance that they provide to OPDs across developing nations including Nigeria towards championing the rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Hon. Abba Isa then announced that there are some very important initiatives of the present government that are in the offing that would require strategic collaborate for its success, while calling on the partners to extend hand of fellowship to government when called upon.
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