By Oluseyi Dasilva, Ilorin
Barrister Wonder Ajibobola, a consultant facilitator has advocated the rights of persons living with disability while calling on government at all levels to ensure these rights are enforced and protected to mitigate their state of helplessness in society.
Ajibobola, who spoke as a facilitator at a 2 day workshop organized by a non-governmental organization, Society for life changers and Good Parental (SoLife), explained that more than 15 per cent of Nigerians live with one form of disability or the other, making an approximate value of twenty five (25) million people.
She added that the knowledge of rights of these categories of people will assist in delivering their right and advocated better life for women and girls in Kwara state living with disability for them to have hope for life, adding that they have equal rights under the law.
The facilitator analyzed some of the challenges faced by persons living with disability which includes poverty, transportations, public acceptability, general stigmatization against them and all forms of negative perceptions against these people, thereby sentitizing Nigerians to protect the right of the disabled.
In furtherance, the Chairman Board of Trustee, Mr Aremu Stephen Akinyele explained that the workshop is aimed at Empowering Women and Girls living with disability through improved social inclusion and elimination of Gender Based Violence in Kwara state.
He said that the project is proudly supported by United Nations Trust fund to end violence against women and children in conjunction with United Nations entity for gender and empowerment of women (UN Women) and the programme is being implemented by the Society for life changers and Good Parental (SoLife).
He stated that the project is a 4 year programme which had started since 2019 and will end by 2022 adding that it was funded to fight for the right of women and girls living with disability, who are facing violence , as a team, we look for a way to bring them out of their unfavourable state. Some has lost hope of been relevant to the society but through this programme, a lot of hope for been relevant in the society.
A resource person at the workshop, Bisola Ariwodola in her lecture said that there is need to bring stake holders together in fighting the social menance called Gender Based Violence as regards people with special needs most often refered to as persons living with disability.
Certificates of attendance were awarded to participants.
