Community Life Project, CLP, an NGO, has sensitised People with Disabilities, PWDs, in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State on their rights and privileges under the law.
The two-day sensitisation programme held in Nsukka yesterday also focused on Gender Based Violence, GBV.
It has the theme “Understanding our Rights as PWDs and How to Protect ourselves from Gender Based Violence”.
Coordinator of CLP in Enugu State, Prof. Simon Eze, in a remark, said the project share the belief that everybody is entitled to fairness and equality in the society.
He said they also believe that nobody should be discriminated against.
“CLP stand is that nobody should be denied his/her rights or discriminated against, because all of us are equal before God”, he said.
Eze, expressed satisfaction that from responses, PWDs in the area now know their rights and privileges.
“They now have boldness and strength to challenge anybody who will trample on their rights and privileges”, he said.
He called on government at all levels to implement the Disabilities Act signed into law in 2018 in order to remove all barriers facing PWDs in the country.
Speaking, the CLP Programme Manager, Ms Celine Osukwu, said the training would help PWDs to know more about GBV.
She said it would also help them understand the challenges facing PWDs in the area and how to tackle them.
“We will also expose them to available laws protecting them as PWDs, build capacity and instill self esteem and confidence in them.
“This training encourages them to form a network in order to amplify their voices.
“It will enable them to resist any GBV, be it physically, emotionally, psychologically and sexually especially among the females”, she said.
The programme manager noted that after the training, CLP would continue to be in touch with PWDs in the area, to assist them mainly on issues of GBV.
Speaking, Philomena Okwueze, a physically challenged student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and one of the resource persons, said that with self-esteem and self-acceptance there is ability in disability.
Okwueze, a Masters degree student, said she produces and sells bathing and laundry soaps, detergent, disinfectant, perfume, air freshener and others under her business name registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to earn a living.
“I do not only produce the above products, I also train individuals and groups on how to make the products.
“As one who majored in mental and emotional healthcare, I counsel people, especially youths, on life challenges”, she said.
Okwueze, told her listeners that with self-acceptance and determination, they too could reach their goals in life.
Earlier, the President of Physically Challenged People in Nsukka, Mr Paul Eze, commended CLP for the training.
He said that they have been educated on how to live their lives with self-esteem as PWDs.
“Physically challenged persons in Obukpa communities and Nsukka in general are grateful to CLP for bringing this very important training to our domain.
“It has prepared us to rediscover ourselves as well as know our worth.
“The training is an eye opener and a morale booster to all of us because we are now well educated on our rights and privileges as PWDs.
“We also know how to protect ourselves against gender-based violence”, he said.
Eze, who is visually impaired, appealed to the Enugu State Government to implement the Disability ACT, 2018, which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also speaking, one of the participants, Mr Chidozie Obi, described the training as informative and power-packed.
He added that they had been prepared on how to overcome their challenges.
“The two-day programme has instilled in us a lot of knowledge on how to overcome our fears and challenges and build a positive mindset and resilience”, he said.
Obi, commended the organisation for bringing the training to Nsukka community.
He thanked the resource persons for preparing them on how to confront their day-to-day challenges and live a free and happy life. NAN
