The government of Cross River State in southern Nigeria has commenced a statewide survey of persons with disabilities to enhance inclusive planning, improve resource allocation and strengthen interventions for equal access to opportunities and services.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Vice Chairman of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, kicked off the two-day exercise in Calabar, the state capital.
Otu noted that persons with disabilities were part of the state’s population, contributing to their families, communities and the economy either as students, professionals, entrepreneurs, civil servants or parents.
The governor promised that the government would not renege on its commitment to inclusivity for persons with disabilities by using reliable evidence to shape policies and programmes responsive to their needs.
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According to him, the survey will help government identify gaps, understand barriers that may limit access to healthcare, education, employment, social services and other opportunities and assess participation in community life.
“Government cannot plan effectively for what it does not have adequate information. The needs of a population cannot be properly understood if the evidence is missing,” governor Otu said.
To the enumerators trained for the exercise, the governor urged them to approach every household with dignity and respect, listen carefully to respondents and conduct the exercise professionally.
He encouraged communities to cooperate with personnel carrying out the survey.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the State Statistician General, Mrs. Akedoh Edet, said that the exercise involved more than data collection.
“this is as an important step towards equipping government with the evidence needed for informed decision-making,” she noted.
Edet further stated that the result of the survey would assist government and stakeholders identify gaps, design appropriate interventions, allocate resources more effectively and advance a more inclusive Cross River State.
She expressed appreciation to the State Planning Commission, the Cross River-Geographic Information Agency and the Association of Persons with Disabilities for supporting the bureau.
The Statistician-General urged residents to collaborate with the enumerators as they visit identified households within the communities.
The enumerators were trained for about three months on electronic data collection using specified Apps, devices and other technicalities to create acceptance and achieve success as they traverse Cross River State communities.
The flag off ceremony featured a demonstration on Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).
