Wheelchair Users in Nigeria under the aegis of the National association of persons with physical disabilities (NAPWPD), step to the fore to celebrate the international Wheelchair Day.
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This year’s celebration of the IWD, themed “Inspire Inclusion,” was held simultaneously across all state chapters in Nigeria, with road walk and press conference by the national leadership of the Disability advocacy group in Lokoja, north central Nigeria.
Founded in 2008, International Wheelchair Day was created to raise awareness about the significance of Wheelchairs and their positive impact on the lives of individuals with mobility challenges.
The national president of NAPWPD, Comrade Ridwanu Abdulllahi, says there are tens of thousands of persons with physical disabilities in Nigeria in need of Wheelchairs, but not everyone who needs a Wheelchair is able to get one.
Mr Ridwanu, expressed sadness on the limited Wheelchair access to persons with physical disabilities in Nigeria as he calls on governments at all levels in Nigeria, to provide Wheelchair access and implement the Disability laws so far domesticated in eighteen States in Nigeria to comply with the relevant accessibility standard code and universal design, while urging governments to ensure quick modification and retrofitting of all public buildings and facilities.
“As we celebrate the importance of Wheelchairs in enhancing mobility of persons with physical disabilities worldwide on the 1st of March, we are happy to honor and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Individuals, Caregivers, Organizations, and Communities that aid Wheelchair users in Nigeria and Kogi State in particular.”
The former chairman of Kogi State Council of Nigerian union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Adeiza MomohJimoh, was bestowed with letter of commendation for creating a ramp at the NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja, a popular event centre in the state that hosts political events and social gatherings.
“As we single out Mr Adeiza MomohJimoh for this special honour and recognition, we hope other organizations and government agencies in the state will graciously emulate the good example of Mr. MomohJimoh and the Journalists union to carry out necessary modifications and retrofitting of existing public buildings in the state.”
A Disability rights advocate in the state, Arome Daniel Ibrahim, expressed joy with the pace of disability inclusion in Kogi State, adding that the event provided Wheelchair Users in the state an opportunity to showcase the “Beauty of Wheelchairs” just as the Disability stakeholders in Nigeria call for domestication of disability laws in states that are yet to domesticate the national disability law to safeguard the rights of Wheelchair Users.
He appreciated the enormous support by the Disability Rights Fund, which sponsors the International Wheelchair Day celebration in Nigeria for giving the consistent support to Disability rights and development in Nigeria.
