By Nana Musa
The Executive Director (E-D) of Sustainable Families Healthcare Foundation (SFHF), Peters Ogunmayin has engaged media organisations to promote inclusive, accurate, and balanced reporting on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.
Ogunmayin made the statement during an interaction with journalists, in Abuja on Tuesday.
She said that the event was organised in collaboration with the christian blind mission (cbm), also commended the media for its role in promoting the rights and dignity of PWDs.
She said that the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception, advocating for policy reforms, and enhancing the visibility of PWDs.
Ogunmayin said that the engagement was part of a new project by the foundation aimed at creating nationwide awareness about disability rights.
“We are focusing on disability awareness to educate all Nigerians.
“Today, we are engaging the media and persons with disabilities to strengthen their capacity to share information and return to their communities better informed,” she said.
Ogunmayin said that the programme seeks to inform the public about the Disability Act and its provisions, which have been approved by the Federal Government and enacted into law.
“For the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , implementation is ongoing, while some states have already begun working on theirs.
“That is why we are creating awareness and building capacity to help stakeholders understand the content of the policy and their roles,” she stated.
The Chairman of the National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), FCT chapter, Chris Agbo, said that the media plays an important role in shaping societal attitudes.
“The media changes the narrative in society, it is key to disability advocacy because it can help change perceptions about persons with disabilities,” he said.
Agbo called for improved training for journalists to ensure proper understanding and reporting of disability issues.
He also highlighted challenges faced by persons with disabilities in the FCT, particularly in infrastructure, accessibility, and policy implementation.
According to him, many roads lack sidewalks, and where they exist, they are often inaccessible to wheelchair users or visually impaired persons due to poor design, obstruction by traders, or open manholes.
Agbo also questioned the implementation of policies such as the five per cent employment quota for PWDs and the limited number of inclusive schools in the FCT.
“Are persons with disabilities adequately captured in development programmes? Are existing policies being implemented effectively?,”
Agbo stressed the need for a dedicated agency in the FCT to address these gaps, coordinate interventions, and ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are fully integrated into government policies and programmes.
Disability expert, Musa Muazu, described the media as a vital gateway to society.
“Where our voices cannot reach as individuals or communities, the media can.
“There are ways of communicating without distorting or discriminating,” he said.
He stressed the need for media practitioners to be trained on disability awareness and inclusive reporting.
Muazu said that Nigeria still faces challenges in addressing discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Muazu revealed that while 27 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have disability laws and 23 have established agencies, the FCT isis still working towards setting up a commission to implement its disability policy.
“We are hopeful that before 2027, the FCT will have an agency to implement its disability policy, considering its status as the nation’s capital,” he added.
