Groups advocate inclusion for persons with disabilities

MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre, has called on Nigerians to stop discrimination against persons with disabilities.

It called for a deliberate employment policy that prioritises people with disabilities.

Speaking at the International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre, Opeolu Akinola, said this year’s theme amplifies the leadership qualities of persons with disabilities that equip them for leadership positions.

He said the centre partnered with MTN to have an inclusive game day for persons with disabilities to compete with non-disability people.

“We also had exhibitions of devices for persons with disabilities for their education, healthcare and employment where people can come and see,” he said.

He said the inclusive game gives room for persons with disabilities to compete with non-disability persons and win the game, adding that persons with disabilities could also compete in workplaces with non-disability persons and win as well.

In his opening remarks, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, represented by Babalola Oyeleye, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, said: “MTN is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and also creating a convenient and accessible environment for our customers, employees and all 27 million Nigerians living with visible and invisible disabilities.

“We are committed to working with our ecosystem partners to collaborate and ensure that we continue to design purpose-based products for persons with disabilities. A lot has been done, but there is still much we can do. We will work together to make this happen.”

The keynote speaker, Consultant, Disability Inclusion, Dr. Toyin Balogun, said there is a need to nurture persons with disabilities so they can become leaders in every sector and level rather than discriminating against them.

She said organisations should open spaces for persons with disabilities to participate and embrace inclusion by giving them employment opportunities.

She noted that statistics have shown that 35.8 million people are living with disability in Nigeria as of 2023. Therefore, she said the population should not be abandoned in poverty and hardship.

She said the government should create an enabling environment for organisations to thrive and employ disabilities in the workplace.

An MTN staff, Chiamaka Ohalete, who is a member of the disability community, shared an inspiring story about joining MTN Nigeria and the warm welcome she received from her colleagues.