Enugu PWDs Applaud WINET Push for Disability Rights
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Enugu State have welcomed a new initiative by the Women Information Network (WINET) aimed at strengthening inclusive governance and promoting the rights of people living with disabilities across the state.
The one-year project, titled “Breaking Barriers to Disability Rights: A Gender Responsive Approach,” is funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and seeks to improve implementation of the Enugu State Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Law 2023 while raising awareness of disability rights among PWDs, government institutions and the public.
Speaking during the project launch in Enugu on Tuesday, WINET Executive Director, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, said the initiative would empower persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, to understand, exercise and defend their rights through advocacy, community sensitisation, institutional capacity building and media engagement.
She explained that the project would also promote stronger collaboration between government agencies and disability stakeholders to ensure the meaningful participation of PWDs in governance and democratic processes.
According to Menkiti, implementation will cover Enugu North, Nkanu West and Udi Local Government Areas.
Key activities include a baseline assessment on awareness of the state disability law and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), advocacy visits to relevant ministries and agencies, leadership training for the Enugu State Disability Commission and JONAPWD officials, community workshops, radio phone-in programmes and an endline assessment to measure the project’s impact.
She noted that WINET has produced simplified versions of the Enugu disability law and the CRPD, alongside a training manual titled Inclusive Democracy in Action to enhance disability rights education.
Officially unveiling the project, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, represented by Director Esther Mbah, commended WINET for its sustained commitment to promoting the rights and dignity of vulnerable groups.
She observed that persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination and barriers in accessing healthcare, education, employment and justice, adding that women and girls with disabilities are often disproportionately affected by gender inequality.
Mbah expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen stakeholders’ capacity, expand awareness and improve access to opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Chairman of the Enugu State Disability Commission, Mr. Jude Eze, represented by Mrs. Juliet Owonta, urged policymakers to move beyond charity and embrace a rights-based approach to disability inclusion.
He disclosed that the commission is engaging government agencies to implement the five per cent employment provision for qualified persons with disabilities in Enugu State, describing it as a crucial step towards opening doors to equal opportunities.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairperson of FIDA Enugu, Barrister Annie Enweani, and the Chairman of JONAPWD, Enugu State, Comrade Onyebuchi Mbah, both of whom praised WINET for its unwavering advocacy and support for the disability community.
