Walk The Talk on PWDs by Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

The government at all levels and people must not waste or bury talents, most especially Persons With Disabilities(PWD). Let us enact anti-discrimination and other disability-specific laws. All stakeholders must get organized on this-governments, parents, international donors, the media, the JONAPWD, Human Rights Groups, philanthropists, among others. It is only through appropriate policy stands that we can raise the hope of the hopeless, mitigate the cause of disabilities and prevent causative factors from increasing the fold of PWDs. Nigeria needs to implement all international instruments to which it is a signatory, on the issue of having due respect for the fundamental human rights of the people. For example, women's rights through the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW), Child Rights and Inclusion Rights of the PWDs through appropriate domestication for ease of local adaptation. We have to walk the talk of the challenges confronting disability, democracy and the rule of law, to be able to raise the hope of the people for realizable prospects of the positive impact of democracy driven by the rule of law. This can only be possible through voting in credible leaders who are visionary and selfless in governance with a high passion for the people they are to govern through the promotion of an inclusive society where no one is marginalized, including women and the PWDs. Above all, let us integrate the PWDs for them to naturally manage themselves with happiness and hope for destiny realization because there is ability in disability.