PWDs urge Benue govt to domesticate disability law

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Benue State have called on the state government to domesticate the National Disability Law to better their lot.

The Executive Director of the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Grace Jerry, made the call in Makurdi during the “Media Advocacy Workshop on the Domestication of the Disability Act in Benue State”.

She recalled that the National Disability Bill was passed in 2018 and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 23, 2019, and that since then 21 states had so far domesticated it.

She said, “In the entire North Central, only Benue State is yet to domesticate the disability law. Benue State’s Draft Disability Bill was originally drafted by the Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC) in 2023. Reviewed by Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI), in collaboration with IFA and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Benue State chapter, in March, 2024.”

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Grace, who facilitated a session on “Understanding Disabilities” with a focus on the importance of disability-inclusive reporting, stressed rights-based models for PWDs and the use of the right terminologies when crafting stories on them in the media.

She said, “Inclusive language matters. It shapes perceptions and promotes dignity. We must move away from derogatory and stigmatising terms and embrace respectful, person-first language that truly reflects the rights and humanity of PWDs.”

Jide Ojo, a media consultant and board member of IFA, in his presentations on “Crafting Effective Media Messages for Disability Advocacy” and “Leveraging Digital and Social Media for Advocacy”, harped on the need for media executives to be empowered with practical tools to create compelling and impactful stories.

He said such stories should be geared to resonate with their readers while harnessing deeper the power of their digital platforms in advancing disability rights in Benue State.