Professor Mike A.A. Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has shed light on the harsh realities faced by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
In his paper delivered at the 12th Rights Above Charity Lecture, Ozekhome exposed the widespread discrimination, exploitation, abuse, and neglect that PWDs experience in various spheres of life.
The lecture highlighted the significant challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities, ranging from family and educational barriers to societal discrimination and a lack of public awareness. Mike Ozekhome stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to dismantle these barriers, and called for robust government policies, stronger family support, provision of assistive devices, training for security personnel, and strict enforcement of existing laws to ensure the rights and inclusion of PWDs are fully protected.
In his address to commemorate the December 3, 2023, International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), in Benin City, the constitutional lawyer stated that individuals with disabilities do not require sympathy, characterizing it as a simple recognition of their pain without any genuine attempt to provide support.
Instead, he advocated for empathy an understanding that motivates affirmative action, and emphasized that a culture that does not demonstrate empathy to people with disabilities does them a huge disservice.
While underlining the importance of affirmative action, Ozekhome noted the gap in the implementation of the legal framework for people with disabilities, even though laws exist protecting their rights.
Citing “The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018,” which heralded hope for a better future, he remarked that the provisions of this act were still unmet.
While advocating for the rights of PWDs, the SAN asserted that “it is not the truism of the disability itself but the societal perception of disability that impairs the disabled person.”
He pointed out that this perception, which is frequently tinged with sympathy and neglect, is what hinders people and asks for a society that does not denigrate the uniqueness of those who live with disabilities.
Ozekhome’s call to action is clear: Nigeria must shift from a charity-based approach to a rights-based framework to safeguard the dignity and place of PWDs in society.
Consistent with its campaign, NAPVID will use the forthcoming 3rd December 2024 IDPD to evaluate societal response to disability inclusion and rekindle the discourse on disability rights. The theme for this year’s ‘Rights Above Charity Lecture’ is: “From Margins to Mainstream: Implementing the Edo State Persons with Disability Law 2022 for an Inclusive and Equitable Society”.
The lecture is a critical move in the fight for inclusive society and a step away from legislation towards action.
