Constitute commission for persons with disabilities, group urges Okpebholo

The Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID) on Friday appealed to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to urgently constitute the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities to drive the implementation of the Edo State Persons with Disabilities Law 2022.

The Executive Director of the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Barr. Melody Omosah, made the appeal in a communique issued at the 13th Edition of the Rights Above Charity Lecture (RACL), as part of activities to mark the 2024 International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), in collaboration with the Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Edo State, with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme II.

Speaking at the presentation of the communique to the media, Omosah said the theme of the IDPD, “Amplifying the leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an inclusive and Sustainable society,” aligns with the topic of the 13th RACL, “From margins to mainstream: Implementing the Edo State Persons with Disabilities Law 2022 for an inclusive and Equitable society.”
While seeking Edo State Government support for the Edo State Persons with Disabilities Law 2022, Omosah emphasized that a robust framework should be established to monitor the implementation.

Omosah noted that a statewide campaign should be launched to educate the public, government agencies, and PWDs about the provisions of the law and the rights it guarantees.

He also called on disability organisations to engage the new administration in structured dialogue to advocate for disability-inclusive policies and ensure that disability rights are mainstreamed into the State’s development agenda.