TOPIC: THE PROBLEMS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) IN KEBBI STATE
GUEST: ABDULLAHI ALIYU, CHAIRMAN, JOINT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES (JONAPWDs) KEBBI STATE CHAPTER
#PROJECT#DAP: what is the main focus of JONAPWDS
Mr. Aliyu : The focus of our association is to see that persons with disabilities are mainstreamed into all aspects of life and ensure our full participation in government policies because our people( i.e. persons with disabilities(PWDs) in Kebbi) have been isolated. There are agencies and people in those agencies in the state that feel that because we have one form of disability or the other, we can’t think with our brain. Another objective of our association is to ensure that PWDs on the streets begging attain self-reliance through skill acquisition trainings and empowerment programs.
#PROJECT#DAP: As the state chairman of JONAPWDs, what will you say are the major challenges facing persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the State?
Mr.Aliyu: The challenges can be categorized into four. The challenges faced at (1)Home, (2)Society, (3)Islamic scholars and (4)Government.
#PROJECT#DAP: Let’s start from the home. What are the challenges faced by PWDs at their homes?
Mr.Aliyu: In many families in Kebbi State, once a child is seen to have any form of disability, the first step parents do take in this part of the country is to send the child into the streets to beg instead of giving such child proper attention and support. Some parents go as far as teaching their children what songs to sing and prayers to make to attract sympathizers in the markets and parks.
#PROJECT#DAP: How is your association responding to this trend?
Mr.Aliyu: Our major response mechanism is advocacy. We also explore face to face orientation with parents with children living with disabilities. Not too long ago, I saw two little girls from Zauro(a nearby local government to the state capital) here in Birnin Kebbi begging. They were very tender and this caught my attention. I approached them and inquired why they were begging. They told me that their parents send them to come and beg. I asked for the address of their parents and one of them told me that her mother comes to trade in the central market here in the state capital. I drove to the market to see her mother. When I met her mother and spoke to her about the dangers of street begging especially for a person living with disability, the woman insisted that God created the child to beg and that if I stop her from begging today, she will surely beg in the years to come. This is how bad things are.
#PROJECT#DAP: What challenge does the community pose to persons living with disabilities in the Kebbi State?
Mr.Aliyu: The community also has its share of blame. In the eyes many of our philanthropists, pity is what persons living with disabilities deserves. The first reaction of many people towards a person with disability is to reach into their pockets and bring out #100 or #200 and give it to the person. The error in this is that they make it appear to persons living with disabilities that begging is profitable. None of these philanthropists is eager to send them to school or engage them in meaningful skills acquisition training.
#PROJECT#DAP: When you were categorizing the problems of persons living with disabilities in the State, you mentioned Islamic scholars as part of the problem. What has been their fault?
Mr. Aliyu: Islamic religion prohibits begging but the culture of begging by persons living with disabilities in Northern Nigerian has created the notion that begging is synonymous with Islam. This is why I blame the scholars because they don’t advocate against begging. They just keep quiet and allow our people to continue begging. They don’t preach to philanthropists and the government to help persons living with disabilities in the state become self-reliant. Many persons begging in this part of the country are doing that in ignorance. Some even believe that begging is part of the religion and as such God will bless them as they beg.
#PROJECT#DAP: Without any attempt to castigate government, can you tell us how government contribute to this problem?
Mr.Aliyu: I am not here to castigate government either but honestly speaking, if government want begging to stop, it can do so in no time. If the government for instance, call all our scholars for a two-day workshop to highlight their role in the fight against street begging, we can make progress.
The government is also reluctant towards the issues affecting persons with disabilities. Basically what persons living with disabilities receive from the Kebbi State government is CHARITY. Persons living with disabilities in the state do not have representatives in the government. For instance, here in Kebbi, every local government has a female councillor representing the interest of women but no such thing can be said of persons with disabilities. The only thing we have here is an agency known as Social Security Fund but if you go to that agency, you will discover that from the executive secretary down to the messenger, there is no person with disability in employment and the organization is meant for persons with disabilities. Is this not ironic? The government and its parastatals believe that disability affects a person’s brain and heart. They believe that persons with disabilities can’t think on their own that is why they subject us to charity. During festive periods like Ramadan , government buy wrappers, rice and guinea corn and cause persons with disabilities to queue up to collect and the same gesture will only be shown the next Ramadan . In other words, one bag of rice for one year.
#PROJECT#DAP: What should both parents and the community do to enjoy that persons with disabilities in Kebbi State enjoy an all inclusive society?
Mr.Aliyu: I want parents of children with disability to know that there is ability in disability. That a child is impaired doesn’t mean that he cannot perform. There is a destiny in them that they must fulfil. It is their duty to help such children discover their destiny and provide them with the required education.
#PROJECT#DAP: Thank you Mr.Aliyu for being with us on the show.
Mr.Aliyu: You are welcome.
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